PA/PB members are actively involved in three projects, described below. Feel free to contact us for more information.
- “DRESS A LIVE ANGEL”
For the past several years we have adopted a family for the Salvation Army’s Dress a Live Angel project. This involves purchasing a complete outfit for each child in the family, including underwear, sleepwear, shoes, a school/play outfit, a church outfit (if the budget allows), winter coat, gloves/mittens. We also include one toy. These items are purchased before the November meeting so everyone can see them; and are then wrapped and taken to the Salvation Army in early December. This year we had only two children, but had a wonderful time gathering Christmas goodies for them!
Donations are always welcome - they may be left in the green envelopes at the Monthly meetings or they may be mailed to our address at the bottom of this page, with the Memo: Christmas Project.
- PRO BONO
Watch the calendar for the schedule of clinics.
Our Pro Bono Committee is chaired by Jeannie Kohn. PA/PB alternates with PBLSA monthly duties at the Pro Bono Legal Clinics provided by Legal Aid of North West Texas (formerly West Texas Legal Services) and held at Casa de Amigos in Midland. We, as volunteers, do the initial screening to determine and/or confirm eligibility for free legal services. Most of the cases involve family law matters. The clients are scheduled beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. The client then consults with an attorney volunteer who either takes the case to his office or recommends alternative resolution of the problem. The law firms in Midland take their turns working the legal clinic on a rotation basis sending two or three volunteers each month.
- “CASA de AMIGOS”
This year, PA/PB is adding a new project - the Casa de Amigos library. We are accepting donations of children's books which we will donate to the library of this wonderful facility.
- “PYOTE PROJECT”
Texas Youth Commission/West Texas School for Boys
Pyote, Texas
Note: We are saddened by the recent changes at the School and regret that we will no longer have access to Dorm 3. Special thanks to our own Karen Sharma, who tirelessly spearheaded all of the fun functions we sponsored at the facility.PA/PB mentored Dorm 3 at the West Texas School for Boys for the past several years. Volunteers traveled there to provide monthly birthday parties; we outfitted a library (including a video library); and each year we sponsored an essay contest at Thanksgiving. Also, the members each "adopted" a boy and, on his birthday, and sent him a book by an author he enjoyed.
The library is still quite new. Cindy Mecham, Law Librarian for Cotton, Bledsoe Law Firm in Midland, coordinated the library effort. The boys we sponsored are ages 12-21, composed of 23% white, 24% black and 53% Hispanic. The reading levels range from third grade to twelfth grade with most students reading at 6th-9th grade level. Books and magazines are continually collected as well as puzzles and games. Reading is the only free time activity available to these boys.
Out of 14 groups nominated throughout the state, our Association received the award for “OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER GROUP” for 2003 at the 19th Annual TYC/SVRC Statewide Volunteer Conference held in Houston!
This award reflects many hours of work and dedication of the volunteers who went. Karen Sharma, RP, Community Service Chairman, organized these trips and events. She was faithfully assisted by Gigi Linne, CLA, on this project. A TYC Mentor Program was in place and volunteers encouraged the students to reach their potential through supportive relationships with mature, caring, and committed adult role models.
It is our hope that we made a difference in these young men’s lives in some small way.