A Shining Light

If you enjoy volunteer work and have a heart for children, the Little Lighthouse Foundation offers an abundance of opportunities to serve underprivileged little ones and their families.

Founded in Miami in 2010 by real estate investor and developer Robert Sena, the LLF recruits and educates compassionate South Floridians, then deploys them to hospitals, community centers, homeless shelters and other places where help is needed.

LLF volunteers work with its nonprofit partners, such as Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida, the YWCA and Lotus House, a shelter for homeless mothers and children. They also carry out LLF’s proprietary initiatives for meal deliveries, tutoring and homework help, fitness and crafts classes and much more.

In 2019, 2,763 LLF volunteers put in more than 7,000 hours to help the lives of 8,600 children.

“We have volunteers of all ages that come from all walks of life,” says program director Priscilla Roman, noting that LLF even gives youngsters a chance to serve through its Kids 4 Kids initiative. “Kids as young as 3 years old can come volunteer,” she says.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced LLF to pivot quickly and start delivering many of its services through its Do Good Feel Good Live series on Instagram. Whether it’s cooking a meal, leading a workout, teaching a new dance or reading kids a story, LLF continues its mission online.

“It’s a different way of volunteering, but we have made so many incredible connections through DGFG Live,” Roman says.

One of the charity’s most pressing needs is donations and toys for its holiday toy drive. Volunteers will distribute the toys to hundreds of children from LLF partner facilities on Dec. 18.

LLF has volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups, such as employees of a company who want to give back to their community.

“We have so many incredible partnerships with other nonprofits in South Florida, so we are able to easily create any kind of volunteer opportunity for groups of any size,” says Roman. “From hands-on projects, like gardening, painting and cleanups to one-on-one volunteering with the children from our partner facilities, the experiences that come out of LLF are truly one-of-a-kind.”

For information, visit thelittlelighthouse.org or call 305-417-8553.