Non-Profit Food Pantry Dropped as Client by Legal Aid Society

[permalink] In a letter sent to the Grievance Committee for the Seventh Judicial District, Andrew Stankevich, Director of Friends Helping Friends (FHF) food pantry, stated that the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, NY, who was representing FHF in two previous eviction hearings, suddenly and without notice, dropped the food pantry as a client citing a "conflict of interest." The conflict was not elaborated upon.



FHF exists, "To foster multi-cultural collaborations focusing on distributing food products and supplies to those in need." The web site continues, "The Community Food Distribution Program has years of experience in organizing low-income people, while receiving and redistributing perishable groceries."



FHF feeds "approximately 500 people per week."



The letter states that, "[FHF] had been involved in a 'nasty landlord-tenant' dispute that stemmed from Bruno Coccia, the owner of 367 Lyell Avenue, raising the rent on Friends Helping Friends after FHF’s lease expired in April of 2005."



The Legal Aid Society is there to "...ensure that those who seek justice have an opportunity to receive a fair and full hearing." The vision of the society states that they, "Will create an environment in our community that values access to legal counsel, so every person is treated with dignity, equality, and fairness."



It appears from Stankevich's letter that, "...dignity, equality, and fairness" have all been tossed out the window in regards to the FHF case. If the mission of the Legal Aid Society is to provide legal access to everyone as well as a chance for clients to receive a "fair and full hearing," then it would appear the Society has failed.



Since the eviciton, FHF has been looking at possible new spaces, in particular one on Child Street and could be moving-in in a few months. In the meantime FHF is asking that people write to the grievance committee on their behalf. Comment here.