Legal Aid of Southeastern PA

LASP partners with ABA Young Lawyers Disaster Legal Services in response to Hurricane Ida

Pro bono opportunity to help low-income residents

By Marion Hoffman Fraley, Communications Manager, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA

Hurricane Ida raged across Montgomery County and southeastern PA on Sept. 1, creating a path of destruction of flooding and tornadoes that will be long-felt. Bridgeport, Upper Dublin and Collegeville are just a few of the especially hard-hit areas in the county. And legal issues related to Hurricane Ida also won’t dissipate overnight. In fact, storm-related legal problems are expected to continue for at least three years after the initial event and provide an opportunity for pro bono involvement to help low-income residents.

In response to Hurricane Ida and the federal disaster declaration, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) is working with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s Disaster Legal Services Program and FEMA to provide disaster legal aid. Since 2007, the ABA YLD program has provided help in 45 states and more than 200 disasters.

In the immediate aftermath, LASP attorneys staffed a legal resource table at two Montgomery County Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) on Sept. 8-9 at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit in Norristown. Since the federal disaster declaration, LASP staff have met weekly with Shrushti Kothari, Project Manager, ABA YLD National Disaster Content and Resources, and former Staff Attorney in the Disaster Relief Unit at Lone Star Legal Aid in Houston, Texas. The weekly disaster legal aid meeting also includes FEMA officials, other PA legal aid programs, and a Legal Services Corp. (LSC) representative. Kothari also presented an all-staff training on identifying storm-related legal problems to LASP and other Pennsylvania and New Jersey LSC-funded legal aid programs covered by Hurricane Ida disaster declarations.

In October, LASP activated the legal aid Helpline for Hurricane Ida in PA, in collaboration with MidPenn Legal Services, North Penn Legal Services (NPLS) and Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA). FEMA requires one helpline per state per storm. Low-income Montgomery County residents, as well as people in the seven other counties in the federal disaster declaration, can get free legal assistance by calling 877-429-5994 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., or leave a message. Montgomery, Bedford, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Northampton, Philadelphia and York counties are included in the declaration.

Michael E. Kelley, Norristown Managing Attorney

Sara Planthaber, J.D., M.S.W., LASP’s Hurricane Ida Helpline Specialist, noted that as of Nov. 17, LASP has opened 19 storm-related cases based in Montgomery County, including FEMA applications and denials and landlord-tenant matters.

Examples of legal help available may include: • FEMA application and other benefits available to disaster survivors. The initial deadline, Nov. 10, was extended to Dec. 10. • FEMA denials • Help with home repair contracts and contractors • Replacement of identity documents (such as birth certificates and Social Security cards) • Consumer protection matters • Mortgage-foreclosure or landlord-tenant problems • Life, medical, and property insurance claims

In response to increased disasters, Legal Services Corp.’s Disaster Task Force developed a 94-page report in 2018-19 to address the legal impact of disasters on low-income survivors. Among the common legal problems in the wake of a disaster are landlord-tenant issues, public benefits, document replacement, title clearing, FEMA appeals, domestic violence, and consumer and fraud issues.

Attorneys and paralegals who wish to volunteer with LASP’s Pro Bono Program in any of these areas may contact Kathryn Palladino, LASP Staff Attorney and Montgomery County Pro Bono Coordinator, at 484-209-0892 or kpalladino@lasp.org.

The LSC report encourages community-wide disaster planning and collaboration between the legal and emergency management communities. It stated (on page 12):

“Despite legal aid’s potential in the aftermath of disaster, there can be a significant gap in the disaster-response landscape when there is a lack of a coordinated effort to deal with the legal needs of disaster survivors. Most emergency management and disaster-response organizations are unaware of the legal issues faced by disaster survivors and the particular needs of low-income communities. Legal services providers have deep networks in low-income communities and have experience creating access for people who face barriers to services and information.”

Shawn Boehringer, Esq., LASP Executive Director, noted, “This was a case where we responded to an emerging need. LASP is uniquely positioned to address many community needs.”

Disaster legal aid resources: • “Report of the LSC Disaster Task Force,” Legal Services

Corp.: https://www.lsc.gov/our-impact/publications/otherpublications-and-reports/lsc-disaster-task-force-report • Disaster Legal Services Program, American Bar Association

Young Lawyers Division: https://www.americanbar.org/ groups/young_lawyers/projects/disaster-legal-services/ • National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center: https://www. disasterlegalaid.org/ • Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center: https://www.ladrc.org/ • LASP’s Hurricane Ida page with local, state and U.S. resources: https://www.lasp.org/hurricane-ida

Lily Austin, Independence Fellow, and Richard Prebil, Veterans Advocacy Project Staff Attorney

Jordan Shead, Legal Fellow, and Richard Prebil, Veterans Advocacy Unit Staff Attorney Megan Reinprecht, Community Engagement Unit Staff Attorney

As the pandemic persists, so does the spirit of giving among our members. Though the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause economic hardship and difficulty for the most vulnerable in our community, our members continue to step up to lend a helping hand to those in need. While we tend to focus on the difficulties and challenges in our world, let’s take a few minutes to highlight the good being done by our members every day. So many of our members give back through pro bono work, serving on boards of community organizations, and volunteering at various community events. Here is just a small sampling of the charitable work being done by our members not only during the holiday season, but throughout the year.

Lydia S. Terrill, Esq. Terrill Family Law LLC

My family is participating in the Delaware Valley Volunteers of America “Adopt a Family” program for Christmas this year. The program’s mission is to connect families in need of assistance with those within the community who have a desire to make a difference – helping to make the holiday season a little brighter for our local neighbors in need.

Jillian E. Barton, Esq. Barton Law, LLC

As part of our ongoing commitment to exercise eco-friendly practices, Barton Law has vowed to plant a tree in memory of each of our clients’ loved ones to honor their memories and help restore our national forests. Barton Law has proudly donated to the National Forest Foundation to plant these memorial trees for the 2021 year, and in celebration of Giving Tuesday on November 30th, a second tree was planted by the National Forest Foundation for each of our clients’ loved ones.

Jeffrey S. Feldman, Esq. The Feldman Firm

This year, The Feldman Firm, LLC celebrated #GivingTuesday and the holiday season by once again making contributions to three charitable organizations. This year, the Firm has made donations to Sara’s Smiles Foundation, the Montgomery Bar Foundation, and the Upper Dublin Citizen Emergency Fund.

Sara’s Smiles (www.saras-smiles.org), based in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania, honors the memory of Sara Kate Burke, Jeff

Feldman’s niece, by brightening the spirits of pediatric cancer patients in hospitals and care facilities around the country.

The Montgomery Bar Foundation (www. montgomerybarfoundation.org) is the charitable affiliate of the Montgomery Bar Association; it supports law-related educational, charitable, and humanitarian projects throughout Montgomery County, PA.

Established in 2018, the Upper Dublin Citizen Emergency Fund (www.upperdublin.net/cef/) was created to provide relief to distressed persons in Upper Dublin Township, PA who are facing a critical, immediate need for food, shelter, medical care or clothing for their health and well-being.

We wish everyone a meaningful, peaceful, healthy and joyous holiday season.

Wisler Pearlstine, LLP

Wisler Pearlstine, LLP continues its support of charitable and non-profit organizations serving our communities in Montgomery County, Bucks County, and the surrounding communities, through grants made by the Wisler Pearlstine Charitable Fund (“the Fund”).

The Fund made grants to the following organizations in 2021:

Bringing Hope Home, which provides financial and emotional support to local cancer patients and their families, such as paying essential household bills for families in need.

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, which provides intergenerational programming for early education and youth development, adult education and workforce development, and adult day care to needy individuals in Philadelphia.

The Kelly Anne Dolan Foundation, which provides financial support to local children living with serious illnesses and disabilities, assisting with the needs that are not covered by insurance, such as respite programs and non-cash items to families.

The Travis Manion Foundation, which develops programs, training opportunities, and events that are designed to empower veterans and their families.

The Montgomery County Foundation’s newly formed Emergency Disaster Relief Fund, which provides funding to local organizations that provide services and supplies to our neighbors displaced by Hurricane Ida and the related flooding.

The Wisler Pearlstine Charitable Fund provides grants to these and other organizations that ensure that financial and other services are provided equitably and inclusively in their communities.

The personnel at Wisler Pearlstine continue to collect and donate food, personal care supplies, school supplies, and Christmas toys for the clients of the Daily Bread Community Food Pantry in Collegeville. Partners and staff members participated in a work project at Daily Bread in October.

In addition to our efforts at the firm level, many of our attorneys and staff members serve as committed volunteers, directors, officers, and board members for charitable and other non-profit organizations in Montgomery County, Bucks County, and other communities in which they reside.

For more information, please visit the community page of our website, www.wislerpearlstine.com.

Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg and Gifford

The lawyers and staff at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg and Gifford are involved in many significant charitable activities throughout the year. As in past years, the attorneys and staff members serve and support a variety of local non-profit organizations including the Montgomery Bar Foundation, the Montgomery County Women’s Center, MCAP, National Alliance on Mental Illness Montgomery County, the Cradle of Liberty Boy Scouts of America, Generations of Indian Valley, the Ambler Senior Adult Activity Center, Keystone Opportunity Center and MANNA on Main Street. In addition, the lawyers serve as MCAP advocates for children in need throughout the year and offer pro bono services. As the holiday season approaches, it seems most important to “kick it up a notch.” Since early November, we have been holding a food drive for the food pantries at MANNA on Main Street and Keystone Opportunity Center. We have been adopting families at the holidays for more than 25 years. This year is no exception although things are a little different because of COVID. The four organizations we are supporting, MANNA on Main, CADCOM, Keystone Opportunity Center and the Kelly Ann Dolan Memorial Fund, now prefer gift cards rather than actual gifts. So, although we love to shop, we are providing these organizations with gift cards so their clients can do their own shopping. And, let us not forget the pets! We collect cash and items in need for Last Chance Ranch to support the pets in need of a home. We feel so fortunate to be able to support these organizations and give back to the local community now and throughout the year. Happy Holidays!

continued on next page >

Continued from page 21

Timoney Knox, LLP

In 2021, Timoney Knox, LLP put its mission of enduring and evolving into practice by stepping up its charitable efforts to assist more organizations in response not only to the pandemic, but the tornado which touched down a mile from our office.

A donation was made to The Friends of Upper Dublin Public Library, the nonprofit entity tasked with supporting the new Upper Dublin Public Library. Our financial assistance helped the library further its mission of connecting people and ideas, to educate, inspire and strengthen the Upper Dublin community.

Recognizing that our community, and in particular the nearby elementary schools, were greatly affected by the tornado of September 1st, the firm provided financial assistance in addition to what it normally donates, to the Upper Dublin Education Foundation.

Our firm continued its support for more than a dozen charitable organizations, including the important work of the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project and the Montgomery Bar Foundation Legal Aid program.

Since its founding in 1976, the firm has proudly supported and served on the Board of the Kelly Ann Dolan Memorial Fund. The nonprofit organization offers financial assistance for families caring for children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and injuries. We are humbled and heartened by the impact, given that more than 27,000 families in crisis have received the help they so desperately need. In 2021, our firm adopted two families and provided gift cards to purchase presents for all family members.

The firm continued its longstanding support of the Wissahickon Trails. Timoney Knox has supported this organization for decades, both financially and by having an attorney sitting on its board. We are proud to support the efforts of Wissahickon Trails and the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust to protect the land and waterways and take pride in working to shape this important natural asset.

Two of our attorneys also served as volunteer presenters through the Arc of Philadelphia to parents of children with disabilities in regard to the legal rights to an appropriate education of those children.

Our attorneys and staff remain committed to volunteering in our local communities, clubs and schools as well as in the capacity of directors and board members of charitable organizations.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell and Lupin

The staff and attorneys from Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell and Lupin continue to enjoy making the holidays a little brighter for an adopted family each year through the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund. The Fund is a non-medical resource center that provides advocacy, education, information, and financial assistance for needs not covered by insurance to families caring for terminally, critically, and chronically ill, severely disabled, or seriously injured children. This year’s family received numerous gift card donations from our firm in an effort to help them celebrate the holidays, and participation from our Firm was extremely generous. We wish everyone a very happy holiday season and a healthy, happy New Year.

Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin

Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin has been collecting and contributing food items and monetary donations to the Patrician Society for over two decades. The Patrician Society is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization which was founded and incorporated in 1981 with the purpose of meeting the basic human needs of economically disadvantaged adults, children and families in the greater Norristown area. MDWCG Administrative Assistant Mary Pat Kielinski has coordinated the collection and delivery each year. As Mary Pat says, “No one needs to have deep pockets or be wealthy in order to help the hungry, you just need to have a heart!”