photo by Ralph B. Davis
Mary Going, directing attorney with AppalReD; Jonathan Coomes, with the Department of Public Advocacy; Kelly Ward-Wallen, staff attorney with AppalReD; and Lorie Foley Elam, deputy director of AppalReD, talked about some of the services AppalReD provides, during the agency’s open house Thursday.
PRESTONSBURG — Marking Kentucky Nonprofit Week, Appalachian Research and Defense Fund opened its doors to the public Thursday.
AppalReD deputy director Lorie Foley Elam said the purpose of the open house was to give the community a better understanding of the work her agency does.
“Today is the day we celebrate Kentucky nonprofits, such as our organization, and give insight to the community what services we provide to low-income families,” Elam said. “We’ve had a huge response and learned some people, even though their businesses are in Prestonsburg, did not realize what services we provide.”
As an example, Elam said her office took a call just this week from a person who assumed from the “Research and Defense” part of AppalReD’s name that the agency worked with the FBI.
AppalReD provides free civil legal representation to low-income clients in 37 southern and Eastern Kentucky counties. The agency does not represent people involved in criminal matters.
“We try to meet the civil legal needs of people who wouldn’t be able to afford legal representation otherwise,” explained Mary Going, directing attorney of the Prestonsburg office.
The open house took place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those who attended were treated to sandwiches and sweets, while also receiving information about AppalReD’s activities.
Elam said she was pleased with the number of people who dropped by to check out the office, which included not only local attorneys, but also those involved in other businesses.
More information about AppalReD can be obtained by visiting www.ardfky.org.
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