Ramona Food & Clothes Closet switches gears on scholarships

In an effort to assist people of all ages and backgrounds, Ramona Food & Clothes Closet offers New Beginnings/Fresh Start scholarships.

The new scholarships are for persons with either a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate who wish to complete a two-year college program or vocational school. They also could be used to receive a GED from an accredited school.

The New Beginnings grants are in addition to the Jeff Funk Community Spirit scholarships for students in the service area who have been accepted in a two- or four-year college, university or vocational school. The service area includes Ramona, Julian, Santa Ysabel, Ranchita, Borrego and Warner Springs.

In another move to encourage more people to apply for scholarships, Ramona Food & Clothes Closet’s new board of directors dropped the Jeff Funk scholarship requirement that applicants must volunteer 40 hours in the nonprofit’s Thrift Shop at 773 Main St.

“We encourage them to volunteer, but it no longer is a requirement,” said Lori Webster, board president. “We would like to offer something without something in return.”

The New Beginnings/Fresh Start Scholarship is an offshoot of the Funk grant, but it is open to more people in the community.

“What about people who want to get on their feet?” said Webster.

The New Beginnings scholarship offers $500 for two-year college, trade school or adult education per semester, with a maximum of $2,000 for four semesters. The money goes directly to the school for tuition and fees.

“The goal is to help them get a fresh start through education,” said Webster. “...It could even be for a contractor who wants to get a contractor’s license, or the mother raising her kids who’s working a menial job.”

Ramona Food & Clothes Closet’s longstanding mantra is: “Because you gave, we can give.”

Added to that is the nonprofit’s new motto: “We’re changing the world,” said Webster.

In addition to providing financial support, the purpose of the New Beginnings and Jeff Funk scholarships is multifaceted: To have a long-term impact on the individual and the community, to influence families toward greater financial independence and to build self-confidence and self-reliance.

Scholarship recipients should be from a low- or middle-income family. Members of the Scholarship Committee will evaluate each application separately so individual circumstances can be reviewed.

Scholarship money comes through the Ramona Food & Clothes Closet Foundation. Thrift Shop profits may be used to pay some or all of the awards.

Applications for the New Beginnings/Fresh Start Scholarship will be accepted year-round.

Jeff Funk scholarship recipients receive up to $18,000 — $2,250 per semester for up to eight semesters. The annual deadline for Jeff Funk scholarship awards is June 1.

Details about both scholarships are at www.foodandclothescloset.org under “Foundation/Scholarships.”

Webster started volunteering at the Ramona Food & Clothes Closet in December of 2014 and then served as a board member before being appointed board president in April.

“I’ve never ever lived in a community that supports its community as much as Ramona,” she said.