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Meet Our Board

  • Pastor Troy Cato (Interim Chair)

  • Dr. Lenore Jackson (Secretary)

  • Lateka Starnes (Treasurer)

  • Tia Lawson

  • Lorri Smith

  • Melissa Stinnett

 

Meet Our Staff

  • LaVonda Johnson (Interim Executive Director)

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How You Can Help ​ Non-Technical Volunteers: Non-Technical volunteers with YWCA Upper Lowlands, Inc. are not required to go through specialized training prior to service and will not have client interaction. Administration Administrative Support Volunteer Special Projects Volunteer Shelter - Groups or Individuals Shelter Almost Home Meal Program Maintenance and Grounds Beautification​ Special Events Special Events Volunteer Trained Volunteers: After an initial interview, volunteers will attend our 16-hour On-boarding Training as well as 24 hours of department-specific advanced training prior to service.  Trained Volunteers with direct client interaction require a successful background check. Equity and Justice Advocacy Volunteers ​ Housing Housing Advocate Volunteers Crisis Services Crisis Hotline Volunteers On-Call Crisis Volunteers ​ Shelter Emergency Shelter Volunteers ​ Outreach Outreach Ambassador Volunteers ​ Victim Services Administrative Advocate Volunteers Victim Advocate Volunteers VOICES Survivor Advocacy Committee Volunteer Member For questions or if you wish to be added to the mailing list for special event volunteer information, please contact the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at [SUMTER VOLUNTEER EMAIL HERE] or call [Desired phone number]. ​ Visiting Our Shelter? If you are volunteering at the Emergency Shelter, please download and complete the Visitor Confidentiality Agreement before your visit.  Signed agreements can be emailed to [SUMTER VOLUNTEER EMAIL HERE] ​

Volunteer Program

Philosophy

YWCA of the Upper Lowlands, Inc. acknowledges the critical role volunteers play in helping us achieve our mission to eliminate racism and empower women, children, and families.

 

We value the contributions of volunteers and interns and seek to use their time, talent, and passion to enrich the lives of others.

 

We aspire to provide volunteers and interns with the resources needed to be successful and to offer meaningful experiences that will have a lasting impact on our clients, organization, and community.

 

Our Goal is To:

 

  • Be a nonprofit of choice for volunteers

  • Educate volunteers on issues important to our clients, organization, and community to affect positive change

  • Build a collaborative community focused on making a significant impact

  • Retain volunteers by offering meaningful and rewarding opportunities

Intern Opportunities

 

Trained Internship Participants:YWCA YWCA Upper Lowlands, Inc. offers internships to undergraduate and graduate students. Interns are subject to background checks and have direct client interaction. If you are interested in pursuing practicum or internship opportunities, please apply at least two months in advance of the semester start date, as our programs are highly competitive and fill quickly.

Equity and Justice

  • Advocacy Interns

 

Crisis Services
  • Crisis Hotline and Accompaniment Interns

 

Shelter
  • Emergency Shelter Interns

 

Administration
  • Finance Interns

  • Human Resources Interns

  • Special Projects Interns

Counseling

  • Graduate Counseling Intern

 

Housing

  • Housing Advocate Interns

 

Outreach

  • Outreach Ambassador Interns

 

Victim Services

  • Administrative Advocate Interns

  • Victim Advocate Interns

3 women are killed

  • 1 in 3 women will be impacted by sexual assault or domestic violence during their lifetime.

  • 3 women are killed each day in the USA by an intimate partner.

  • On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a year.

  • Nearly half of all women and men in the United States have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime (48.4% and 48.8%, respectively).

  • 30 to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the household. 

  • There is a common link between domestic violence and child abuse. Among victims of child abuse, 40% report domestic violence in the home (from a WORLD REPORT).

  • South Carolina is 5th in the Nation for homicides in the United States for women killed by men

The last 50 years, the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands, Inc. has been providing services in the community. Since 1967, the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands, Inc., located in Sumter, SC, provides quality-focused, culturally relevant services which empower women and their families to achieve self-sufficiency.  We implement the following programs: Domestic Violence, Senior Services, Batterer’s Intervention, Y-Cap (YWCA Career Assistance Program), YWCA Sister’s Closet to help women dress for success, DEW (Deposits Empowering Women) Children’s Advocacy, Parenting, Prevention Education.

The YWCA of Upper Lowlands operates and maintains two facilities: The Battered Women’s Shelter and the administration/service facility at 246 Church Street.  Your contribution would help to ensure uninterrupted services and will make a positive difference in the lives of the women, children and families we serve.

The YWCA Safe House has provided services to women, children and families in Sumter, Lee Clarendon and outlying counties since 1967.  The Safe House Shelter operates 24 hours, 365 days of the year.  Other services include victim advocacy, legal services, victim counseling services/ support groups, referrals, clothing, food, transportation, housing, rent and utility deposits, job assistance, case management and help with relocation.

Providing Safety Beyond Shelter

The YWCA Safe House offers more than emergency housing.

Survivors and their families may receive:

• Victim Advocacy

• Individual Counseling and Support Groups

• Legal Assistance and Court Advocacy

• Case Management

• Housing Assistance

• Rent and Utility Deposit Assistance

• Clothing and Food Assistance

• Transportation Services

• Employment Assistance

• Community Referrals

• Relocation Assistance

Every service is designed to help survivors rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and hope.

Providing Safety Beyond Shelter

The YWCA Safe House offers more than emergency housing.

Survivors and their families may receive:

• Victim Advocacy

• Individual Counseling and Support Groups

• Legal Assistance and Court Advocacy

• Case Management

• Housing Assistance

• Rent and Utility Deposit Assistance

• Clothing and Food Assistance

• Transportation Services

• Employment Assistance

• Community Referrals

• Relocation Assistance

Every service is designed to help survivors rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and hope.

The YWCA of the Upper Lowlands, Inc.

13 Caldwell Street

Sumter, SC. 29150

Tel: 803-773-7158

© 2026 YWCA | All Rights Reserved.

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