Community Service

Various organizations and communities are challenged on a daily basis - trying to obtain the resources they need to help people and further their cause. As we know, the unfortunate are also challenged - they often lead a life that not many can relate to and it is a challenge for them to receive the emotional, physical and financial help they need to get through the day.

To help those in need tackle their every day challenges, the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) created its Community Challenge Weekend (CCW) program in 1999 where it encourages ALA chapters, its members, firms, vendors, relatives and friends to come together to contribute time, energy and resources toward improving their own communities.

The First State Chapter is proud to participate in the ALA’s Community Challenge Weekend each year.  In 2009, First State ALA’s CCW project included a canned food drive to benefit The Ministry of Caring, a non-profit, ecumenical organization devoted to serving poor, homeless and disadvantaged people in and around Wilmington, Delaware.  The event started in mid-October and on October 16th and 19th we delivered 63 boxes of canned/non-perishable food goods to The Ministry's Emmanuel Dining Hall.  Eighteen of the First State Chapter's member organizations joined in the event.  In addition to the canned food drive, chapter members helped serve lunch at the Dining Hall several days in October, November and December.   With the help with local vendors, we also sponsored the Dining Hall's Halloween party.   Chapter Members helped with the food, music, games and decorating.   Chapter members also helped with sign ups for the Adopt-a-Child program and Thanksgiving Basket Donation projects with two shifts of volunteers working over two days (October 5 and 6) assisting families with their requests in hopes of adding a litlle extra to their holidays.