Driving down Chestnut Street into the heart of Lebanon City, you may take number 513 for granted; however, this impressive building is home to a small staff with a big mission: provide free legal aid for low-income families.

MidPenn Legal Services is a private, non-profit, public interest law firm that represents low-income families, as defined by the federal government, in civil matters.  Operating for over 40 years in 18 Pennsylvania counties including Lebanon, the issues that MidPenn staff helps individuals and families with are: domestic violence, custody, housing, health care, consumer law, employment law, elder law and public benefits.  A large amount of cases involve family law matters, most notably custody cases.

The office helps people like Bonita, who was up to her neck in debt and was in fear of losing her car, her home; but, worst of all she lost her husband to serious health issues.  With the husband whom she had cared for and quit her job to take care of gone, Bonita found herself living on a meager Social Security check, unemployed and barely getting by.  Desperate for help, and suffering from depression among other health issues, Bonita came to MidPenn and met with Attorney James Orgass.  Orgass consulted with a MidPenn paralegal who specialized in Social Security.  The MidPenn staff fought for Bonita and was able to get her Social Security disability, a medical assistance card and negotiate with the bank to save her home.  Now, Bonita has a steady income stream, benefits and a roof over her head; something she may not have found without the services provided by MidPenn.

Currently, the MidPenn Lebanon staff consists of just five staff members, two of which are practicing attorneys and one that is a paralegal.  This small staff handles a tremendous case load; last year alone the office saw 877 cases.

However, MidPenn is greatly helped by private attorneys within the County who took on 356 of those 877 cases at absolutely no cost to MidPenn clients.  These private attorneys make up MidPenn’s Pro Bono program.  In 2008, 62 private attorneys participated in the program and helped in all types of civil cases.

MidPenn would not be able to provide these services if it wasn’t for the funding they receive from government sources and agencies like the United Way of Lebanon County.  With those families and individuals living in poverty increasing due in part to hard financial times it can only be anticipated that the need for legal services will increase.  Your generous donation helps support MidPenn Legal Services to help ensure that those, like Bonita, who find themselves in a legal crisis, will have somewhere to turn.

For more information on MidPenn Legal Services, visit their website www.midpenn.org, call the Lebanon office at 717-274-2834 or visit their offices at 513 Chestnut Street, Lebanon.