December 2023
Newsletter
Message from our Executive Director
Dear Friends,

Happy December! I know every year we say time flies, but this year feels particularly fast. For South Central LAMP, this year felt even faster as we finally implemented our pre-COVID program schedule. There were so many in-person activities we had not been able to provide until this school year.

Along with the return of our previous activities, we also grew programming. In January we began our long-awaited STEAM Afterschool Program, which also includes a parenting component that provides workshops that support parents on their parenting journey. Along with the afterschool curriculum, we started a few online parenting classes, and an online ESL class. Adding these programs was incredible, this also meant adding more people to our South Central LAMP family. Which necessitated our Thanksgiving Food drive needing to feed more families, our Holiday Toy Drive needing to include more children, and overall, our supportive services needing more staff.

Thanks to those who support South Central LAMP, we have been able to extend our services to more people in our community, without straining our limited resources. It is incredible to see how a small agency like ours has been able to do so much, and there is a reason for that. We have incredible donors, community partners, foundations, Board of Trustees, and staff, many of whom either grew up in a community like the one we serve, or currently live in South Central Los Angeles. We are lucky to have staff that loves the work we do, all of us doing our best to ensure our mission is not just something written on our website, but that it lives in every decision we make. I feel blessed to do this work, along with everyone who believes in the work we do!

Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year! ¡Felices fiestas y feliz año nuevo!


Diana Z. Pinto
Executive Director


P.S. South Central LAMP will be featured this week on KCAL Channel 9 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and on CBS Channel 2 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Keep an eye out for us!
Adult Education Program Update
South Central LAMP's Adult Education and Programs Department wrapped up November with a spirit of gratitude and community engagement. A remarkable achievement unfolded as the team again distributed an impressive total of 100 Thanksgiving grocery bags to families participating in our programs. The impact of this initiative reached far beyond the provision of essential resources; it created a sense of unity and support within our community.

As the autumn festivities continued, the mothers of our Family Literacy Program gathered for a heartwarming Friendsgiving celebration. Laughter and joy echoed as they shared delicious meals, fostering a sense of camaraderie. These moments were not just about food; they were about building connections and expressing gratitude for the positive changes our Family Literacy Program has catalyzed in their lives. Numerous mothers voiced their appreciation for the program, highlighting the transformative effects it has already had on their families.

As we transition into December, we reflect on the successful conclusion of our Online Parenting Class and Hybrid Parent Workshops. While these enriching sessions have temporarily paused for the holiday season, we eagerly anticipate their restart in the new year. Our weekly pantry program will continue to serve the community throughout most of December, ensuring that families have access to essential resources. The South Central LAMP community looks forward to continuing our journey of learning, growth, and shared experiences as we continue through this festive month.

Jessie Hernandez
Adult Education and Program Manager
Early Education Program Update
The South Central LAMP Children's Program welcomes all our parents to join Cafecito so they can be updated on what our programs have to offer! We review policies and procedures that have to do with late drop-off and pick-up, missing information in their children’s files, attendance, and updating emergency cards. We also review safety procedures and have special guests share additional resources our program offers. To ensure a healthy return in January, we will give Covid-19 tests to the parents so each child can take one upon returning to class.

Room 5 (Pre-K) and Room 6 (Toddlers) are working with the Creative Curriculum and their study topic for December is “Weather.” Both rooms will learn from activities as well as books and songs that go with the focus of the month. Room 7 (infants) is also working with the Creative Curriculum, but their focus for December is “Enjoying Stories and Books.” Teachers are working with the infants on having hands-on experiences, like exposing them to books by reading to them and having songs that focus on the theme of the month.

Parent-Child Interactive Literacy Activities (PCILA) is a mommy and me class that the family literacy mothers enjoy with their children weekly. They also have “I love you” rituals at each session. The Room 5 ritual for December is “Pedro, Pedro El Cangrejo” (Pedro, Pedro the Crab) and their objective is for parents to promote literacy by encouraging their child to participate during food preparation. The Room 6 ritual is " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," and the objective is for parents to lay a foundation for reading and writing. The Room 7 ritual is “Jake Be Noodle” and their objective is inviting interaction, while reading aloud and to appreciate books. Parents, children, and teachers work together to create an activity together. Building on bonding time with their child also helps them enjoy literacy activities.

Samira Alvarez
Early Education and Program Manager
Holiday Recipe from South Central LAMP Staff

Ilce Moreno, Site Supervisor and EXPL Afterschool Coordinator, is thrilled to share our next holiday recipe, her family favorite, flan! It's a holiday tradition over the holidays!
Many Thanks to our Amazing Partners!
South Central LAMP is so incredibly blessed for our Community and Corporate Partners who we collaborate with throughout the year, ensuring the women and children in our program’s needs are met.
 
Whether you're engaging with our children through reading, sprucing up our spaces by gardening or painting, or donating baby supplies, books, car seats, food, gift cards, school supplies, or toys for our annual events, we deeply appreciate your ongoing commitment to the families we serve!

Our 2023 Community and Corporate Partners:
  • Anthem BlueCross
  • Automobile Club of Southern California
  • Avalon-Carver Community Center
  • Brio College Prep
  • Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School
  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles
  • Christ Child Society of Pasadena
  • Clarion Partners
  • Jan Clifford
  • Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
  • Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
  • Dignity Health
  • Food 4 Less
  • Girl Scout Troup 3361
  • HBA International
  • Insight in Action
  • Kroger
  • Law and Stein LLP
  • Los Angeles City Council District 9
  • Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
  • Los Angeles Police Department Newton Division
  • Los Angeles S.W.A.T.
  • Louisville High School
  • Loyola Marymount University
  • Mayfield Junior School
  • Mayfield Senior School
  • McKool Smith
  • Mount St. Mary's University
  • Northgate Gonzaelz Markets
  • Notre Dame Academy
  • Partners for Children South LA
  • Polsinelli, LLP
  • Provencio Advisory Services Inc.
  • QueensCare Health and Faith Partnership
  • QueensCare Mobile Dental and Vision Program
  • Ramona Convent Secondary School
  • Rosamaria Segura
  • South Central LA Regional Center for the Developmentally Disabled Persons
  • St. Francis Center
  • St. Louise Resource Services
  • St. Martin of Tours Church
  • St. Martin of Tours School
  • St. Maximilian Kolbe Church (Project Response)
  • Target
  • Tobin Lucks, LLP
  • Youth Justice Education Clinic
You Too Can Make a Difference!
Your support today can spark positive change tomorrow. Supporting our families requires a united effort from all our partners, whether you are one of our community organizations, corporate entities, foundations, or individuals. Remember, South Central LAMP provides all our essential services, free of charge, to the families in our community.
 
Your year-end contribution allows South Central LAMP to continue to empower the women and children we serve. We firmly believe that by investing in mothers, we strengthen their entire family. Click the box below to make your donation today!
Support South Central LAMP on ShopRaise!

South Central LAMP is partnering with ShopRaise, a simple way to turn your everyday shopping at over 1,000 retailers into support for our many programs, and an easy way for you to make philanthropy part of your online purchases. From groceries and apparel to technology and travel, a percentage of everything you buy will support South Central LAMP! The best thing is, it's free! Click the button below to join ShopRaise, then select the South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project, Inc. Thank you for continuing to help make a difference in the lives of women and children in South Central Los Angeles!
Please Note: Our NEW Mailing Address

As of July 1, 2023, when mailing to the South Central LAMP,
please address your letter to:

South Central LAMP
P.O. Box 11336
Los Angeles, CA 90011
Stay Connected with South Central LAMP!

For more information on ways to support South Central LAMP, please contact our Development Director, Nicole Burcham, at nburcham@southcentrallamp.org,
visit our website, or follow us on social media to learn more about our programs.