Let’s Help Inc, one of Topeka’s prominent charitable organizations, will be celebrating the hiring of a new executive director on August 12 in Washburn Institute of Technology’s conference room from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Let’s Help Inc has hired Linda Kehres to fill the position left by former executive director Shelly Lowery who is residing and pursuing opportunities outside the Topeka area.

Though Kehres has been employed by Let’s Help for only a few weeks she has known of their work for 15 years. As part of a program by United Way, Kehres witnessed the work being done by Let’s Help while working in a soup kitchen.

“It was pouring down raining (sic) when we got there and there were already just hundreds of people standing out there waiting for a meal,” Kehres said. She said that it was a shock to see people who had once been part of business meetings with her there in the lunchroom.

With 25 years of experience in leadership roles, Kehres has made an impression with the chairman of Let’s Help’s board of directors, Steve Kersting.

“I’m excited,” Kersting said. He said she showed an uplifting and positive attitude along with a commitment to helping people in need.

Both Kehres and Kersting expressed an interest in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of Let’s Help’s programs, their goal being to enhance existing strengths and addressing known weaknesses.

Let’s Help has a growing partnership with Washburn Tech where students are given the opportunity of completing a GED. Simultaneously, while taking classes here, they are also given the opportunity to take classes at Washburn Tech that lead to a certification program.

“It’s a wonderful collaborative partnership” Kehres said.

Concerning the students of Washburn University, Kehres said that college age people often have a desire and value of volunteerism.

“We have some specific key areas we’re going to be kind of honing in on and looking for true leaders at Washburn to help us in some real key roles here,” Kehres said. She emphasized that many volunteers are needed and that the number of people helped each day in this way is exciting.

Students interested in volunteering with Let’s Help can go to www.letshelpinc.org and use the volunteer tab to complete an application which can be sent to Linda Kehres through mail or be scanned and emailed to [email protected].