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LAMP Kinship program gets new coordinator, says county grant and local donations will support growth
Summary
LAMP Kinship told commissioners it hired a part‑time program coordinator, plans expanded school and after‑school activities, and is relying on county and private grants (including $5,000 from the county budget) to grow mentor matches.
Cindy Holstrom, speaking for LAMP Kinship, told the Meeker County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 2 that the volunteer mentoring program has completed a yearlong reorganization and recently hired a program coordinator, Erica Buller. "We have now just recently hired a program coordinator. Her name is Erica Buller," Holstrom said, adding that Buller will work 20 hours per week on program operations while Holstrom focuses on fundraising and awareness.
Holstrom said the county’s annual gift to LAMP remains in the draft county budget at $5,000 and that Meeker Health & Human Services has $10,000 designated in HHS’s budget under a PrimeWest reinvestment line. Tina (Meeker Health and Human Services) confirmed the HHS budget designation and said LAMP aims to serve about 10 children per year through referral partnerships with county social services and schools. "These dollars are really just meant to support that," Tina said.
LAMP described three program components it will expand: one‑to‑one mentor matches (currently eight active matches, nine with the pending assignment), group activities including after‑school programming with 4‑H, and a lunch‑buddy program that operates in multiple schools. Holstrom said mentor matches ask volunteers for a two‑year commitment and about four hours per month.
On fundraising, Holstrom said the group’s annual budget is about $84,000 and it has been working to secure larger operational grants; recent gifts reported to the board include a $3,000 Walmart grant and a $2,500 award to support the lunch‑buddy program. Holstrom asked commissioners to continue to identify donors and community partners as LAMP expands services to Atwater and the Eden Valley–Watkins area.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about referral sources, counts of active matches, program commitments and strategic‑plan visibility on LAMP’s website; Holstrom said the strategic plan is not yet posted but will be when the organization completes a website update.
