Today we’d like to introduce you to Lateifha Mcdonald
Hi Lateifha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well, I can say I officially started The LSM foundation back in 2018, which is a nonprofit organization that caters to the needs of the homeless and less fortunate. It was something I always wanted to do because as a kid growing up I remembered that my family and I didn’t have a lot, but we always seemed had enough when it counted. And I say that to say this, yes we struggled, but we always seem to have just the right amount of love just the right amount of support just the right amount of community to help us get through those struggling times. I noticed young that a lot of people didn’t have that which was heartbreaking for me because even though my family struggled, I still wanted us to help other struggling families. I would always invite kids over for dinner or you know snacks because I just wanted to help, being that young not knowing anyone’s situation, I really didn’t care what you did or did not had I just wanted to help by any means necessary. And it really didn’t stop there like once I got through you know elementary school went to middle school high school even undergrad. I did the exact same thing I catered to people and I always wanted to help especially if I knew someone needed something I made it my business to try and get it for them. Even if I had to spend my last dime to get it, I was gonna get it for them because I didn’t want people to go without when I could offer help. After undergrad, I started working at the hospital in Lexington and I noticed that we have a lot of homeless people that are in need of a lot so I made up in my mind then that I was going to start a nonprofit to give back and help our community. I always said it’s a blessing to be a blessing because again you never know what people are going through and just one small gesture could make their lives so much better it could be the pick me up that they need so why not help where you can. So it was the winter time in 2018 that I started with a coat drive. I got all of the hospital employees and volunteers to donate old coats, hats, scarfs, that they didn’t use or needed or wanted anymore. And I got all my family and all my friends to pitch in and help and once we gathered all of the clothing items I went down to the homeless shelter in downtown Columbia called transitions, homeless shelter, and I gave out all of the clothing items that we gather. It felt so good to just see their appreciation and the smiles on the faces of the people that received those clothing items, that I couldn’t stop there. I had to keep going. So I went back to the drawing board and I came up with the name and the next project that we were going to do. And we were going since we adopted a family for Christmas that year and then we just kept going. We’ve done back to school drives. We have made Valentine’s Day bags for the homeless and just went around the city and passed them out. We partner with transitions, homeless shelter again to feed the homeless for Thanksgiving, which we purchased and cooked and served all of the food. The feeling of giving back is unexplainable, it’s so rewarding just to see their smiles and how they light up just to know that someone else cares about them. It’s a wonderful feeling. And to see my peers and my family and my friends wanting to help, donate, and offer their services that’s an even greater feeling to know that you’re not alone in wanting to make the community better and just love on people because everyone deserves to feel loved and cared for, I don’t care what your background is where you came from how you look what you believe in everyone deserves to be and feel loved. And the greatest love that I can give is giving back to my community, an ensure that we all take care of each other. So from the beginning of The LSM foundation where it was just me wanting to give back with a coat drive in 2018 to now we’re in 2025 and the community has grown, we are feeding the homeless, we are volunteering at the shelters, we are giving back to our students that are still in school from elementary to college, we are making sure that on every holiday everyone has that community and surrounded by love. We get donations from all over, volunteers from all over, from elementary school students to our grandparents, we all just want to be a part of something that’s bigger than us and I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road at all. This has probably been one of the hardest things I actually had to do. Starting up a business or a foundation I should say where you have to ask people for money, donations and ask people for you know certain things had not always been peaches and cream. I’ve had many doors slammed in my face and as hurtful as it was, it made me go harder. At the beginning, I didn’t have you know a lot of donations, everything didn’t always work out as I thought it would. I actually funded a lot of my startup activities myself. I worked overtime, I worked weekends, I worked everyday for a month straight once just so I can have enough money to get all of the supplies for a food giveaway that I was doing downtown Columbia in the park. It was summertime, it was hot so I wanted to give out lunches, drinks, and toiletries. I didn’t have the support that I wanted, but I made it work because I work my butt off so I can make it happen for others, I just wanted them to know that I was there and I cared. It was hard. And I wanted to get mad and I wanted to give up, but I had to realize that nobody is obligated to support me in my business. But I just gotta keep going anyway. Getting the courage to actually ask someone for help or even ask people you don’t know, is hard because you don’t know how some people are going to respond. So I had to really be careful when it comes to that. Also trying to talk to certain people to get the knowledge on how to start or go about starting a foundation when they are looking at you like they are the least bit interested in what you’re saying was heartbreaking. I wanted to talk to people and pick the brains of people who have already been where I was and was successful at it, but some made me feel like I was just wasting my time. It discouraged me a little, but that’s where my faith came in. Just knowing that if God didn’t want you to do these things then he would’ve never placed the desire on your heart. So even in times where I was discouraged, I knew I had to keep going because it wasn’t about me, it was bigger than me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well up until about three months ago I worked for a pharmaceutical company training Pharm Techs on how to make sterile medication. And though that job was great after 4 1/2 years, I felt like my journey there was over. So I resigned, and I focused more on my fitness journey. Fitness has become a part of my life’s journey for the last 2 1/2 years, and it just keeps getting better. It has helped me through some of the darkest times in my life where it has now become the highlight of my life. I love everything fitness from the weightlifting, nutrition, the transformations, etc. I love it so much. I started my own fitness line. I like to look good while working out and feeling good. I am everything fitness, and to this date my fitness journey, and my foundation is what I am most proud of. What sets me apart is my passion for both fitness and giving back. I bring a strong work ethic and dedication to everything I do, whether it’s helping a team succeed, motivating others to be their best, or finding ways to give back to the community. My background in fitness has taught me discipline, resilience, and the importance of setting and achieving goals, qualities that I apply to my professional life as well. Additionally, I genuinely enjoy making a positive impact, whether it’s through teamwork, mentorship, or community service. That combination of drive, purpose, and people-first mindset is what makes me unique.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Oh Yes, I have. One of the biggest lessons I learned during COVID-19 is the importance of adaptability and prioritizing what truly matters. The pandemic showed me how quickly things can change and how vital it is to be resilient in uncertain times. I learned to focus on my health, relationships, and personal growth while also finding ways to give back to others in need. It reinforced the value of community, gratitude, and taking care of both physical and mental well-being.
Contact Info:
- Website: Website is being revamped
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thelsmfoundation
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/thelsmfoundation
