A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

This time of year, many of us give thanks and reflect on our blessings. It may be a cliché, but it’s also an undertaking that I believe is very important. So, as we near the end of another year driven by the difficulties and sadness of the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to especially emphasize my sources of gratitude at Legal Aid of West Virginia.
I am grateful for…

Our Staff
I am continuously amazed by the resilience and dedication of our incredible staff working across our 15 advocacy sites. Over the past COVID year, the stress of increased need among our client community, paired with the uncertainty around appointments, hearings and overall planning, has made service provision especially challenging. Yet our dedicated staff has been especially creative and solutions-oriented over the last year and for that I am grateful.

Our staff’s honesty is also something I value. I get questions from staff regularly, and they are not afraid to challenge the decisions we make as an organization. I see this kind of discourse as a privilege because our employees are invested in how our work affects our clients, our community, and their co-workers.

As the year ends and I count my blessings, I am especially grateful and appreciative of my Legal Aid of West Virginia colleagues for their hard work and commitment to our mission.

Our Clients
Not all clients with whom we work have stories that end happily. And not all clients are happy with us. But so many, many clients tell us that our work has changed their lives, affording them dignity, justice and a way to look forward to a better future. However, regardless of who they are, I am grateful to our clients for sharing their struggles and allowing us to be a part of ensuring that the “justice for all” promise in our country’s Pledge of Allegiance is not forgotten!

Our Supporters
In these times of difficulty, we have been fortunate to see our supporters’ generosity hold fast and, in many cases, grow.

I simply cannot say enough about how much we value our supporters: Board members, donors, community partner organizations, volunteers, funders, and all those who share their time, treasure or support our work in some way.

Below, you will see featured quotes from some of those supporters about their relationship with Legal Aid of West Virginia. We simply could not do the work we do without a network of people and groups who so generously help magnify our work in the name of bettering West Virginia. Our supporters are a source of pride and gratitude every day for me and our staff.

I encourage you to count YOUR blessings and know that you are part of OURS. Thank you for reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

-Adrienne Worthy, Executive Director of Legal Aid of WV

Quotes from our Pro Bono Volunteers

“Words cannot describe the impact that Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Program has on West Virginians. I have seen first hand the difference it has made in the lives of people who are in the middle of experiencing one of the most stressful periods in their lives. It is life changing.”
-Tiffany Kent, Pro Bono Volunteer

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to give back to a community that has given so much for me. This community has raised me, taught me, and cared for me throughout all phases of my life. Being able to give back to those that need help they would not otherwise be able to afford permits me the honor of repaying some of the gifts this community has helped me achieve. I am proud to be able to work with LAWV and the fine members of our community I am honored to represent.”
-Ronald N. Walters, Jr., Pro Bono Volunteer

Quotes from our Donors

“Legal Aid is critical to not only the fabric of the legal community but larger West Virginia community. The dedicated and talented individuals at LAWV do incredible work.”
-Booth Goodwin, Donor

“We believe in your mission, and we appreciate your efforts for your clientele.”
-David Webb, Donor

Quotes from our Community Partners

“Working with Legal Aid has given us a unique opportunity to provide a host of services neither of us could provide as individual organizations. By communicating and working together, we are working toward a better community with more access to life-changing services.”
-Stephanie Moore, Executive Director of Family Refuge Center, Lewisburg

“The services and support our patients receive from Legal Aid are literally lifechanging. Patients we refer to Legal Aid have been able to overcome barriers from their past and begin a life of true recovery.” 
-Lois Vance, MAT Care Manager at Cabin Creek Health Systems

“We are thankful Legal aid helps victims of abuse by being there for them. Whether starting with a divorce or custody hearing, any time you can go in with legal representation, that’s an advantage.”
-Lt. Tony Craigo, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office

Quotes from our Clients

“I don’t know how to say thank you enough. For once, I’m actually speechless.”
– LAWV Client

“I appreciate all your hard efforts. Thank you for helping us through this divorce. My son and I are ready to have a better life.”
– LAWV Client