Community Service Steers Pro Bono Coordinator's Work
During my 10-year career at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT), I’ve been working regularly in the community building relationships with many community organizations and partners, including the Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM). In the past, Lexie Wiley, San Angelo Managing Attorney, and I have partnered with Karen Green, one of two local Wesley Nurses, to offer a monthly intake at the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, where Ms. Green’s office is located. We regularly attend the Concho Valley Homeless Planning Coalition (CVHPC) made up of many community organizations including both Wesley Nurses. I’ve set up a LANWT table at the monthly Homeless Navigation Days hosted by CVHPC since this event started about two years ago. Our office has also partnered on many occasions with a local minister, Aaron Milan, who’s also affiliated with MHM. Mr. Milan has invited me to numerous outreach events, such as days his church distributes food to community members. I’ve also spoken to the church's Hispanic men’s group and LANWT has offered community education at the church. Over the years, I’ve received many legal aid referrals from the Wesley nurses and from Mr. Milan.
After the July 4 flood disaster in San Angelo, I immediately responded by setting up an informational at the temporary command center located at Paul Ann Baptist Church and then later manned a table at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the bus depot. While at the DRC, I talked with Ms. Green about how Legal Aid can help flood disaster victims. She asked how her organization could help the San Angelo flood victims, and said she would share information with MHM about Legal Aid’s work. Shortly after I sent her the information she requested, I received an email from Methodist Healthcare Ministries saying they wanted to provide LANWT with a one-time donation of $50,000. I was in shock and texted Ms. Green to check if this was a scam. I’d originally thought MHM might be interested in co-hosting an event or volunteering to help us, not realizing they were planning a donation. My takeaway is that everyone you talk with may be a potential supporter of Legal Aid.
After the July 4 flood disaster in San Angelo, I immediately responded by setting up an informational at the temporary command center located at Paul Ann Baptist Church and then later manned a table at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the bus depot. While at the DRC, I talked with Ms. Green about how Legal Aid can help flood disaster victims. She asked how her organization could help the San Angelo flood victims, and said she would share information with MHM about Legal Aid’s work. Shortly after I sent her the information she requested, I received an email from Methodist Healthcare Ministries saying they wanted to provide LANWT with a one-time donation of $50,000. I was in shock and texted Ms. Green to check if this was a scam. I’d originally thought MHM might be interested in co-hosting an event or volunteering to help us, not realizing they were planning a donation. My takeaway is that everyone you talk with may be a potential supporter of Legal Aid.
