Giving Tuesday

Northwestern Legal Services (NWLS) provides FREE legal services in civil cases to low-income residents of the 10 northwestern Pennsylvania counties of Erie, Bradford, Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Forest, McKean, Mercer, Venango & Warren.  And although NWLS has been around for more than 50 years, it is amazing that so many people are still unaware of our existence.  What this means is that many people and families who could benefit from our services, do not.  

For example, a widowed veteran and his children ended up losing their home because he did not know that we could have helped sooner.  People have attended their Unemployment Compensation hearings alone and ended up losing because they did not know that we could have represented them.  Many victims of domestic violence do not seek protection from abuse orders because the thought of having to stand in court alone against their abusers is scary.  It saddens us to know that we could have made a difference in the lives of so many people who find themselves in civil legal situations, cannot afford an attorney, and do not know where to turn or what to do.

A common misconception about NWLS is that we are a government agency.  We receive funding and grants from federal, state, and local sources, but we are a private, nonprofit organization and rely on private donations to do outreach.  Your donations will help ensure that we reach more of the vulnerable members of our communities who could use free civil legal help before it is too late.  Please consider a small donation to help us make life a little bit better for those who really need it today.