We define “success” in many ways: an achievement of a desired goal at work; the graduation of your children from college; or the victory of an athletic team. Success sometimes can be defined quite differently for people struggling each day to make ends meet.

Success can be securing a safe, decent and warm place for your family to sleep each night. It can be defined as gaining independence for you and your children from an abusive partner. Success can be securing justice from a used car dealer who sold you a lemon you can’t drive to work each day. Success can be the ability to provide your family with three solid meals each day.

The provision of legal services to the poor removes the obstacles to success confronting many low income Delawareans each day.

A Grandparent-caregiver retains her benefits
Ann relied on her welfare benefits to help cover the costs of caring for her grandchild. However, when her son answered the phone one day while visiting, the state caseworker assumed Ann’s son was living at the home as well, and added his name to her file without informing her. The addition of her son’s income to her household disqualified Ann from receiving the welfare benefits she so desperately needed. Unable to convince the state that her son did not live with her, Ann turned to CLASI for help. CLASI advocates convinced the state her son did not live with her and to restore her benefits.

A mother and child are freed from abuse
Susan feared for her life because her husband had physically and emotionally abused her for most of their marriage. When she became pregnant with their child he forced her to quit school. After the child was born the abuse did not stop. When her husband threatened to kill her, Susan filed for a Protection From Abuse Order (PFA). A DVLS attorney represented her at the trial. After the court granted a PFA protecting Susan and her baby, DVLS helped her file for custody, divorce and property division. Safe from her ex-husband, she is now back in school working toward a nursing degree.

A single mother obtains decent housing
Unable to afford to pay rent anywhere else, and in need of a home for herself and her two children, Edith turned to a landlord who seemed to be offering a good deal: low rent for a used manufactured home. The deal turned out to be too good to be true. Edith and her children along with several other low-income families began living in used manufactured homes and camping trailers in a salvage yard. Her home lacked heat, electricity, water and sewage. A nearby “porta potty” was the only essential service provided. With the arrival of sub-freezing temperatures in winter, Edith contacted LSCD for assistance. LSCD attorneys filed suit against the landlord and recovered rent and damages allowing Edith, her two children and the other tenants in the salvage yard to move into decent, safe housing.

You can make your donation to the Campaign in three ways. You can make a Campaign pledge online by clicking on the link to the left entitled "Make a Pledge" and filling out the online form or you can mail your donation directly to the Campaign at the following address:

This year you also can give to the Campaign by credit card. You can make a donation by credit card using the remittance envelope mailed out to every member of the Bar or you can donate by telephone by calling (302)575-0660 x235. The Campaign accepts donations by Visa or MasterCard. Many thanks to Wilmington Trust for making this service available to the Campaign. (We regret that we are unable to accept your credit card donation online.)

Donations to the Combined Campaign for Justice are tax deductible.

Thank you for your support.