By Peter A. Sutters Jr.
Florine Gnanagurni of Queens Village came from Sri Lanka in 1999 and did what many other immigrants do when they want to obtain documentation — retain a lawyer, have them fill out the proper paperwork and bide her time until it arrives in the mail.”I waited for three years and nothing happened,” said Gnanagurni.That's when she went to the Redeemer Lutheran Church on 217th Street and 92nd Avenue in Queens Village after she had heard about its partnership with City University of New York School of Law's Community Legal Resource Network. “There were problems in the community that clearly pointed to a need for legal services,” said Redeemer's pastor, Peggy Wuertele. Through funding provided by City Councilman David Weprin (D-Hollis), state Sen. Serphin Maltese (D- Glendale) and grants from the New York Gimbel Foundation, the church now acts as a liaison between area residents seeking legal help and free or low-cost lawyers from the network. The group has contacts with 200 private attorney members who can provide help in cases where community residents cannot afford the high cost of retaining a lawyer, but at the same time do not qualify for assistance from other city-run programs. Gnanagurni said she went to the church and was referred to a lawyer who offered her some simple advice that got her what she needed.”She told me to go to Federal Plaza with my paperwork and check on the status of my application,” said Gnanagurni. 'When I went there, it was buried under a pile of paperwork.”Ganagurni said after she showed the employee at Federal Plaza she had all her paperwork in line and was just waiting to be approved, she moved her file to the top of the stack.”Two months after going there, I got my green card in the mail,” said Gnanagurni. “My role is to screen clients and determine the level of help needed,” said Roberta Chambers, the lawyer who helped Gnanagurni. “I can then refer them to other resources.” “I think if I didn't come to her, I wouldn't have gotten my green card,” said Gnanagurni.Chambers said in some cases all someone needs is to be pointed in the right direction, just as Gnanagurni did, while in other cases the services of one of network's lawyers is needed. Chambers said she will be at the church Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to help others in need of legal services. Residents in need of help can stop by the church or call CLRN to get more information on how to get help.Reach reporter Peter A. Sutters Jr. by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext 173.
