2026 Volunteer Newsletter | | |
Dear South Central LAMP Community,
As we prepare for another exciting school year, we invite you to become an even bigger part of the South Central LAMP community. Whether you can give a few hours or make a longer-term commitment, your time and talents can have a lasting impact on the women, children, and families we serve.
This fall brings many meaningful ways to get involved, including volunteering during our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, helping spread joy during our Holiday Toy Drive, or joining us for our festive Toy Wrapping Party. We also offer rewarding volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Join us weekly on Wednesday mornings to help distribute food to families in our community through our St. Francis Center food distribution, spend time with our EXPL Afterschool Program supporting students in kindergarten through 5th grade, or lend a hand with important administrative projects such as assembling enrollment packets, organizing classroom and teacher supplies, preparing mailings, and other behind-the-scenes tasks that help our programs run smoothly.
If you're looking for a way to make an even greater impact, consider sharing your expertise by serving on one of our volunteer committees: Communications, Development, Finance, or Programs. These committees (which meet via Zoom monthly or bi-monthly) play an important role in strengthening our organization and helping us fulfill our mission. We hope you'll find an opportunity that fits your interests and schedule and join us in empowering women, children, and families across South Los Angeles. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions!
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to South Central LAMP. Together, we are building stronger families and brighter futures.
In partnership,
Nicole Burcham
Development Director
nburcham@southcentrallamp.org
323-234-1471 ext. 101
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Meet Lisa Byrne! A valued member of our Programs Committee, Lisa has been volunteering and giving back to South Central LAMP for the past three years.
Why I Volunteer
I first learned about South Central LAMP through my work at Mayfield Junior School of the Holy Child, where I have taught drama for the past 16 years. As a Holy Child ministry, South Central LAMP has long been an important partner in our school's commitment to service, justice, and Cornelia Connelly's mission to "meet the wants of the age." Over the years, I have accompanied several groups of our eighth-grade students, faculty, and staff as they volunteered at South Central LAMP—working with children, cleaning classrooms, gardening, painting, and helping wherever we were needed. Through those experiences, I witnessed the incredible sense of community and dignity that South Central LAMP creates for every woman, child, and family. When I began my doctoral studies in Educational Leadership for Social Justice at Loyola Marymount University, I knew South Central LAMP was the place where I wanted to deepen my involvement by combining my passion for theatre, education, and social justice.
Since then, I have had the privilege of serving as a Programs Committee member, volunteer, and theatre teaching artist. Through my doctoral research this year, I facilitated creative drama and storytelling workshops with women in the Family Literacy Program, using arts-based research and ethnodrama to explore themes of female empowerment. It has been an incredibly meaningful experience to create a welcoming space where participants can share their stories, discover their voices, and build community through creativity.
One of my favorite memories has been watching women who initially insisted they "weren't performers" gradually embrace the creative process with confidence and joy. Seeing participants encourage one another, laugh together, and discover the power of sharing their own stories has been incredibly moving. I also treasure the memories of bringing Mayfield students to South Central LAMP over the years and watching them develop empathy, compassion, and a deeper understanding of what it means to serve alongside a community rather than simply for a community.
The women, children, and families at South Central LAMP have profoundly shaped both my personal and professional life. Their resilience, courage, generosity, and hope inspire me every time I visit. They have reminded me that everyone has a story worth telling and that true empowerment begins when people are seen, heard, and valued. Their willingness to trust, share, and support one another has strengthened my own commitment to using the arts as a tool for connection, healing, and social change.
Volunteering at South Central LAMP matters because it is rooted in relationships. It is not simply about completing a project or providing a service—it is about building community, honoring the dignity of every person, and learning from one another. As a Holy Child educator, I believe South Central LAMP beautifully embodies our shared mission of compassion, justice, and hospitality. Every volunteer brings unique gifts, but we leave having received far more than we have given. South Central LAMP is a place where lives are transformed through kindness, respect, and the simple act of showing up for one another.
If you've ever considered volunteering, I encourage you to take that first step. Whether you have a few hours to give or are looking for a more ongoing commitment, you'll discover what I have—that South Central LAMP doesn't just change the lives of the families it serves; it changes the lives of those who serve alongside them.
Lisa Byrne
Programs Committee Member
| | Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities & Drives! | | |
Back to School Drive
As we prepare to welcome families back to South Central LAMP, we're collecting much-needed items to support the women, children, and staff in our programs throughout the year.
We're looking for books for the women in our Family Literacy Program, along with classroom supplies, educational materials, and office supplies to help create a welcoming and enriching environment for our youngest learners and the team that supports them.
Your generosity helps ensure our classrooms are filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive from the very first day. Every donation—big or small—makes a meaningful difference in the lives of the families we serve. Thank you for helping our students, families, and staff begin the school year with the tools they need for success!
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Thanksgiving Food Drive
Last year, thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, South Central LAMP provided more than 375 Thanksgiving food bags to families throughout the South Central Los Angeles community. This year, we're hoping to make an even greater impact—and we need your help!
We invite you to organize a Thanksgiving Food Drive at your workplace, school, place of worship, or within your neighborhood. By collecting essential holiday food items, you'll help ensure that local families can gather around a nourishing Thanksgiving meal with dignity and joy.
Please deliver your donations to South Central LAMP by Monday, November 16, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Every donation, no matter the size, helps make the holiday brighter for the women, children, and families we serve. Thank you for helping us bring hope, nourishment, and the spirit of Thanksgiving to our community.
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Thanksgiving Food Sorting
We’re also looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help sort and organize the food donations we receive. If you’re available, we’d love your help on Monday, November 16, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Your time and effort will play a key role in ensuring families receive the support they need this Thanksgiving. Join us in making a meaningful impact and helping our community thrive! Email Bryan Bonilla, Development Operations & Communications Coordinator, by clicking the button below for more information.
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Holiday Toy Drive
The holiday season is a time of hope, joy, and giving—and each year, our South Central LAMP community comes together to make it truly special for the families we serve. Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters like you, hundreds of children experience the excitement of receiving gifts during the holidays.
This year, there are two wonderful ways you can help make the season brighter:
🎁 Host a Holiday Toy Drive
Gather your coworkers, classmates, friends, neighbors, or congregation to collect new, unwrapped toys for children in our programs. Donations can be dropped off at South Central LAMP December 7–9, 2026.
🛍️ Shop Our Amazon Wish List
Prefer to shop online? Be on the lookout this fall as we'll share our Amazon Wish List featuring gifts selected specifically for the children in our programs. Simply choose a gift, and it will be sent directly to South Central LAMP.
Every toy represents more than just a gift—it brings joy, creates cherished memories, and reminds our families that their community cares. Thank you for helping us make the holidays brighter for the women, children, and families of South Central LAMP. Together, we can make this season one to remember.
For more information, please email Nicole Burcham, Development Director, by clicking the button below:
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Toy Wrapping Party
Looking for a fun and meaningful way to give back this holiday season? Join us for our annual Toy Wrapping Party and help make the season magical for the children and families of South Central LAMP!
On Saturday, December 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., volunteers will come together to wrap gifts for our students and their siblings, ensuring every present is ready to bring smiles on the holidays. We'll provide the wrapping supplies, holiday music, and festive treats—you bring the holiday spirit!
Whether you come on your own, with family, friends, or coworkers, we'd love to have you join us for this heartwarming tradition. Your time will help create a memorable holiday for the families we serve.
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Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities
Looking for a meaningful way to make a difference throughout the year? South Central LAMP offers a variety of ongoing volunteer opportunities to fit your interests and schedule.
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Wednesday Food Distribution: Help distribute food to families in our community every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. through our partnership with the St. Francis Center.
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EXPL Afterschool Program: Support students in kindergarten through fifth grade by assisting with activities, homework, and enrichment in our STEAM based afterschool program.
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Administrative Support: Lend a hand behind the scenes by assembling enrollment packets, organizing teacher and classroom supplies, preparing mailings, and assisting with other office projects.
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Beautifying Days: Help create a welcoming environment for our families by gardening, painting, cleaning, organizing, and enhancing our campus throughout the year.
Whether you can volunteer once or on a regular basis, your time and talents make a lasting impact on the women, children, and families we serve. Interested? Fill out our Volunteer Form below and send it to Nicole Burcham at nburcham@southcentrallamp.org.
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Thank You to our 2025-2026 Community and Corporate Partners!
We are incredibly grateful for the generosity, dedication, and partnership of the following organizations. Their support makes our work possible and helps us empower women, children, and families every day. Because of each of you, South Central LAMP continues to thrive and create lasting change in our community. Thank you for standing with us and making a meaningful difference.
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- Anonymous
- Associated Students of LMU
- Baby2Baby
- Ballard, Rosenberg, Golper & Savitt LLP
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Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School
- Clarion Partners
- Claris Health
- Comcast
- East West Bank
- Enterprise Bank & Trust
- Good+ Foundation
- Haven Neighborhood Services
- Kroger
- LA County Department of Public Health
- Law, Stein, Anderson, LLP
- Little Caesars
- Los Angeles Police Department - Newton Patrol Division
- Los Angeles Police Department - SWAT
- Louisville High School
- Loyola Law School Immigrant Justice Clinic
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- Loyola Marymount University
- Mayfield Junior School
- Mayfield Senior School
- Mount St. Mary's University
- Northgate Gonzalez Markets
- Notre Dame Academy
- Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School
- Panda Express
- Provencio Advisory Services, Inc.
- PwC Giving
- QueensCare Health Alliance
- Ramona Convent Secondary School
- Raw Sugar
- SEMPRA Energy Foundation
- Seyfarth
- St. Martin of Tours Church
- St. Martin of Tours School
- St. Mary's Academy
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St. Maximilian Kolbe Church - Project Response
- Tampico Spice Co., Inc.
- Wholistic Women
- Willani & Associates
| | | | Can't Volunteer? You Can Still Make a Difference. | |
If you're inspired by South Central LAMP's mission but don't have the time to volunteer, you can still create lasting change through a financial gift. Your donation helps empower women, strengthen families, and provide children with the education, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Every gift—no matter the size—makes a meaningful impact. Become a donor today and help us continue building brighter futures for the families of South Central Los Angeles.
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To learn more about our volunteer opportunities, please contact Bryan Bonilla, Development Operations & Communications Coordinator, at bbonilla@southcentrallamp.org or
(323) 234-1471.
If you would like to make a gift in support of South Central LAMP, please contact Nicole Burcham, Development Director, at nburcham@southcentrallamp.org or (323) 234-1471 ext. 101.
We look forward to connecting with you and welcoming you into the South Central LAMP community!
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