The Disaster Legal Services program is a partnership among the North Carolina Bar
Association and Foundation, Legal Aid of North Carolina, American Bar Association, and FEMA
to assist North Carolina residents affected by natural disasters.

A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for survivors of Tropical Storm
Helene in North Carolina. Disaster Legal Services, which allows callers to request the
assistance of a lawyer, is a partnership between the North Carolina Bar Association and
Foundation, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division,
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions may call the disaster legal
assistance hotline at 866-219-5262. Callers should identify that they are seeking storm-related
legal assistance, ask for Disaster Legal Services assistance, and identify the county in which
they are located. Survivors who qualify for assistance will be matched with North Carolina
lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal help.

Legal assistance is available for the following issue areas:

• FEMA appeals
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance and other disaster benefits
• Insurance claims
• Home repair contracts and contractor disputes
• Contractor fraud and consumer protection matters
• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster
• Mortgage-foreclosure
• Landlord/tenant problems

Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with North Carolina lawyers who have
volunteered to provide free, limited legal help. Survivors should be aware that there are some
limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will
produce a fee (i.e., those cases where fees are paid part of the settlement by the court).

Major Disaster Declaration
A total of 26 North Carolina counties and tribes have been approved to receive federal
assistance in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. The counties are: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe,
Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson,
Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania,
Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (additional
counties may be added later).

People who sustained property damage, need immediate emergency assistance for essential
items (like food, baby formula, or water), or need immediate housing assistance as a result of
Tropical Storm Helene are urged to apply for FEMA assistance, as they may be eligible for
federal and state disaster assistance. People can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Applicants may also call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-621-3362). Tropical Storm Helene survivors
are also encouraged to review Legal Aid of NC’s resource website at
www.legalaidnc.org/helene.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for
eligible applicants. SBA helps businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofit
organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of
replacing lost or damaged personal property. Disaster loans cover losses not fully
compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

For more information, individuals may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service
Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s
website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-
877-8339.

For more information on North Carolina’s recovery, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4827
and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website at https://www.ncdps.gov/ourorganization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene.

Beware of Fraud
Both FEMA and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office are warning North Carolina
residents of the risk of fraud and common scams in the wake of the severe weather. Common
post-disaster fraud practices include phony housing inspectors, fraudulent building
contractors, bogus pleas for disaster donations, and fake offers of state or federal aid. North
Carolinians are urged to ask questions and require identification when someone claims to
represent a government agency.

Survivors should also keep in mind that state and federal workers never ask for or accept
money, and always carry identification badges with a photograph. There is no fee required to
apply for or to receive disaster assistance from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA), or the state. Additionally, no state or federal government disaster assistance agency will
call to ask for your financial account information. Unless you place a call to the agency
yourself, you should not provide personal information over the phone as it can lead to identity
theft.

Those who suspect fraud can call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 (toll free).
Complaints may also be made to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office Consumer
Protection Hotline at 877-566-7226.

Background
When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American Bar
Association Young Lawyers Division, helps to establish a toll-free number for disaster survivors
to request legal assistance. Funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority
of Section 415 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency assistance Act (Public
Law 100-707). The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn partners with state
bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteer lawyers in affected areas to
handle survivors’ cases. In North Carolina, the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers
Division partners with Legal Aid of North Carolina to offer a disaster legal services hotline that
provides legal information and referrals for civil legal issues. Survivors should be aware that
there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available
for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the
settlement by the court).

Partner Organizations
The following organizations have joined forces to establish a toll-free phone line for North
Carolina Tropical Storm Helene survivors to request free legal assistance, and to provide
volunteer attorneys to handle cases arising from hurricane related damage.

North Carolina Bar Association and Foundation – The North Carolina Bar Association is a
voluntary organization of lawyers, paralegals and law students dedicated to serving the public
and the legal profession. The North Carolina Bar Foundation provides support to the Disaster
Legal Services pro bono project and North Carolina Bar Association volunteers. The NCBA
Young Lawyers Division, often referred to as the service arm of the NCBA, is involved in a
multitude of worthwhile projects and public service endeavors, including Disaster Legal
Services.

Legal Aid of North Carolina – Legal aid of North Carolina is a statewide, non-profit law firm
that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure access
to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division – The ABA YLD, the largest national
organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession,
and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA,
is the national voice of the legal profession and one of the largest voluntary professional
membership groups in the world.

Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role
in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all
domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. Through an
agreement with the American Bar Association, FEMA underwrites the cost of operating toll-free
legal assistance lines for survivors in areas designated as federal disaster sites.

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) will host its annual Day of Giving on Sept. 25, 2024, a statewide campaign aimed at raising $100,000 to support vital legal services for individuals and families across all 100 counties in North Carolina. This year’s theme, #StandwithLANC, invites everyone to join the movement to support veterans, survivors of domestic violence, families, children, seniors, and others who cannot afford legal representation.

At LANC, we believe that access to justice is a right, not a privilege. Every donation helps us empower people who face life-altering challenges by providing them with critical legal support. The work we do changes lives—giving people the opportunity to stay in their homes, find safety, and secure brighter futures for themselves and their families.

How You Can Help:

1. Donate – Contributions can be made directly at legalaidnc.org/donate or on LANC’s Just Giving page.
2. Spread the Word – Share our social media posts or create your own using the hashtag #StandwithLANC. A toolkit with resources is available at legalaidnc.org/standwithlanc.
3. Create a JustGiving Page – Click “Start Fundraising” at JustGiving to create your own fundraiser in support of Legal Aid of North Carolina. Share your personal story of why you stand with us!

“Every donation brings us closer to closing the justice gap in North Carolina,” says Helen Hobson, chief communications officer at LANC. “The funds raised will enable us to provide life-changing legal support to more people, ensuring that all North Carolinians—regardless of income—have the opportunity for a fair and just outcome.”

Join Us Online:

• Facebook: facebook.com/LegalAidNC
• Instagram: instagram.com/legalaidnc
• Twitter: twitter.com/LegalAidNC
• TikTok: legalaid_nc
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/legal-aid-of-north-carolina/

About Legal Aid of North Carolina
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a nonprofit law firm dedicated to providing free legal services in civil matters to low-income individuals and families. Our mission is to ensure equal access to justice for all North Carolinians, regardless of income.

For more information about the Day of Giving, visit legalaidnc.org/standwithlanc or contact Helen Hobson at HelenH2@legalaidnc.org.

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13 Former H-2A Workers Settle Human Trafficking and Wage Claims Against NC Employers with Assistance from Legal Aid of North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. – Thirteen former H-2A temporary agricultural workers have settled their federal human trafficking and wage claims with the assistance of Legal Aid of North Carolina’s (LANC) Farmworker Unit. The case, filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina (Martinez-Morales, et al. v. Lopez, Jr, et al., Case No. 5:22-cv-00187-BO), was brought against North Carolina employers Valentino Lopez, Jr. and Gilberto “Beto” Lopez, along with two farms they furnished workers to in 2020. In their complaint, the plaintiffs alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, the North Carolina Wage & Hour Act, North Carolina anti-human trafficking laws, and the common law of contract.

The farmworker plaintiffs alleged that, in 2020, the Lopez brothers made fraudulent promises regarding wages and working conditions. These promises persuaded the plaintiffs to pay exorbitant fees and incur additional debt for visas and inbound travel-related expenses to travel from their hometowns in Mexico to North Carolina to work for the defendants.

Upon arrival in North Carolina, the plaintiffs alleged that Valentino Lopez, Jr. exploited their financial vulnerability by seizing their passports and withholding their Social Security cards. They claimed he used threats of deportation to coerce them into working involuntarily for wages significantly below the mandated H-2A visa wage rate, some weeks below the federal minimum wage, and occasionally without any compensation at all. Additionally, one plaintiff alleged sex trafficking by Valentino Lopez, Jr.

With support from LANC, the plaintiffs reached settlement agreements with the Lopez brothers and two North Carolina berry farms, Hannah Forrest Blueberries, LLC, and Ronnie Carter Farms, Inc., for a total of $150,000. The settlements include minimum wage-related damages for six additional opt-in plaintiffs in addition to the 13 named plaintiffs. The settlements also included commitments from the farms to:

• Develop and disseminate a sexual harassment/sexual assault policy;
• Install workers’ rights posters and posters from the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission at all labor camp sites;
• Increase supervision of contractors’ reimbursement payments for H-2A workers’ fees and travel expenses; and
• Prohibit the confiscation of workers’ passports.

Furthermore, the Lopez brothers agreed never to participate in the H-2A program again. Prior to the date of these settlements, U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced that they assessed $62,531 in civil penalties against Valentino Lopez, Jr. and recovered $58,039 in owed wages for 72 workers following widespread violations of the federal H-2A program, as revealed by the plaintiffs’ interviews with the Department.

Aaron Jacobson, Supervising Attorney for LANC’s Farmworker Unit, commented, “Our office has seen a marked increase in cases involving human trafficking in agriculture, particularly in eastern North Carolina, in recent years. It is our hope that, as a result of the determination and commitment of these clients, others in similar schemes will find courage and inspiration.”

Jose Cruz Martinez-Morales, the lead plaintiff, shared his experience, saying, “Nothing that was promised was ever fulfilled. I was totally deceived. They had made promises, and they failed to deliver on them. In my personal experience, I was afraid…they had threatened us with deportation. So, all of us, we did have fears, but we went forward with our case anyway, and now we have come this far…So don’t be afraid. The farmworkers’ rights have to be respected under the law.”

Marisol Florencio-Gutierrez, another plaintiff, added, “With this case, my coworkers and I put ourselves in danger…and, with the news of these settlements, other workers can also see that they can defend themselves and that they do not just have to do what their employer tells them to. They have rights and they can defend themselves.”

LANC remains committed to fighting for the rights of farmworkers and ensuring that justice is served.

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13 Ex-empleados H-2A Resuelven Reclamos de Trata de Personas y Reclamaciones de Salario Contra Empleadores de Carolina del Norte con la Asistencia de Ayuda Legal de Carolina del Norte

RALEIGH, N.C. – Trece ex-empleados trabajadores agrícolas temporales H-2A han resuelto sus reclamos federales de trata de personas y reclamaciones de salario con la asistencia de Ayuda Legal de Carolina del Norte (LANC) División para Trabajadores Agrícolas. El caso, presentado en el Tribunal del Distrito Oriental de Carolina del Norte (Martinez-Morales, et al. v. Lopez, Jr, et al., Caso No. 5:22-cv-00187-BO), fue brindado contra los empleadores de Carolina del Norte Valentino Lopez, Jr. y Gilberto “Beto” Lopez, junto con otras dos granjas a las que proporcionaron trabajadores en el 2020. En su demanda, los demandantes alegaron violaciones de la Ley Federal de Normas Laborales Justas, Ley de Reautorización de la Protección de Víctimas de la Trata de Personas, Ley de Salarios y Horas de Carolina del Norte, leyes contra la trata de personas de Carolina del Norte, y el derecho común de contrato.

Los trabajadores agrícolas demandantes alegaron que, en 2020, los hermanos Lopez hicieron promesas fraudulentas sobre salarios y condiciones de trabajo. Estas promesas convencieron a los demandantes a pagar comisiones exorbitantes e incurrir en deudas adicionales para cubrir las visas y los costos relacionados con el viaje desde sus ciudades en México hasta Carolina del Norte para trabajar para los demandados.

Al llegar a Carolina del Norte, los demandantes alegaron que Valentino Lopez, Jr. explotaron su vulnerabilidad económica confiscando sus pasaportes y reteniendo sus tarjetas de Seguro Social. Afirman que él usó amenazas de deportación para forzarlos a trabajar involuntariamente por salarios significadamente por debajo del salario estipulado para visa H-2A, algunas semanas por debajo del salario mínimo federal, y en ocasiones sin ninguna compensación. Adicionalmente, un demandante alega ser objeto de trata sexual por Valentino Lopez, Jr.

Con apoyo de LANC, los demandantes llegaron a un acuerdo de resolución con los hermanos López y dos granjas de bayas de Carolina del Norte, Hannah Forrest Blueberries, LLC. y Ronnie Carter Farms, Inc., para un total de $150,000. Los acuerdos incluyen indemnizaciones por daños y perjuicios relacionados con el salario mínimo para otros seis demandantes que optaron agregarse al acuerdo en adición a los 13 demandantes nombrados. Los acuerdos también incluyen compromisos por parte de las granjas de:

• Desarrollar y difundir una política de protección contra el acoso sexual/agresión sexual;
• Instalar carteles sobre los derechos de los trabajadores y carteles de la Comisión de Trata de Personas de Carolina del Norte en todos los campos laborales;
• Aumentar la supervisión de los pagos de reembolso de los contratistas a los trabajadores H-2A para gastos y costos de viaje, y
• Prohibir la confiscación de los pasaportes de los trabajadores.

Además, los hermanos López acordaron no volver a participar en el programa H-2A otra vez. Antes de la fecha de estos acuerdos, el Departamento del Trabajo de los Estados Unidos, División de Salarios y Horas anunció que evaluaron $62,531 en sanciones civiles contra Valentino Lopez, Jr. y recuperaron $58,039 en salarios adeudados a 72 trabajadores debido a múltiples violaciones del programa federal H-2A, como fue revelado por las entrevistas de los demandantes con el Departamento.

Aaron Jacobson, abogado supervisor de la División para Trabajadores Agrícolas de LANC, comentó, “Nuestra oficina ha visto un marcado aumento en los últimos años en los casos relacionados con la trata de personas en la agricultura, en particular en el este de Carolina del Norte. Es nuestra esperanza que, como resultado de la determinación y el compromiso de estos clientes, otros en esquemas similares encuentren valentía e inspiración.”

Jose Cruz Martínez Morales, el demandante principal, compartió su experiencia diciendo “Nada de lo prometido se cumplió. Fui completamente engañando. Ellos me hicieron promesas y fallaron en cumplirlas. En mi experiencia personal yo tenía miedo … ellos nos habían amenazado con deportación. Así que todos nosotros teníamos miedos, pero seguimos adelante con nuestro caso de todos modos y ahora hemos llegado hasta aquí … así que no tengan miedo. Los derechos de los trabajadores agrícolas tienen que ser respetados bajo la ley.

Marisol Florencio Gutiérrez, otra demandante, agregó “con este caso mis compañeros de trabajo y yo nos pusimos en peligro … y, con el anuncio de estos acuerdos, otros trabajadores también pueden ver que se pueden defender y que no tienen que hacer lo que su empleador les dice. Ellos tienen derechos y se pueden defender.”

LANC mantiene su compromiso de pelear por los derechos de trabajadores agrícolas y garantizar que se haga justicia.

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) is proud to announce that Rona Karacaova, Managing Attorney of its Immigrant Pathways for Victims (IMMPAV) project, has been honored with the North Carolina Bar Association’s Greenblatt Outstanding Legal Services Attorney Award. This award recognizes a full-time attorney employed by a legal services program in North Carolina who has made exemplary contributions to providing legal assistance to meet the needs of the state’s impoverished population.

The award is named in honor of Deborah Greenblatt, an advocate who served as the executive director of Carolina Legal Assistance for over two decades, championing the rights of individuals and children with disabilities.

For over 20 years, Karacaova has led IMMPAV, a project that fiercely advocates for the rights of abused and trafficked immigrant victims. She was the first legal services attorney in North Carolina to represent victims under the U nonimmigrant status (U visa), a remedy for victims of crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse. For many years, she and her staff were the sole free legal services providers representing victims eligible for U Visa status. Today, she leads an 11-person team managing over 1,400 open cases, referred by law enforcement agencies including the FBI, immigration judges, the Department of Social Services, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Before her tenure at LANC, Karacaova worked with Connecticut Legal Services and Legal Services of Southern Piedmont. She earned her B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University in 1993 and her J.D. from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law in 1998. Her early career included international experience with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Ankara, Turkey, where she interviewed Iranian and Iraqi asylum seekers, and served as the Assistant Director of a Bosnian refugee camp on the Bulgarian border of Turkey.

“Rona is leading a team that does life-changing work. She empowers some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” said Ashley Campbell, CEO of LANC. “We are so proud to call Rona our colleague. She inspires us all.”

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Raleigh, NC – Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) proudly announces that its domestic violence documentary, Beyond Fear, has been honored with a Silver Telly for Documentary: Short Form (Under 40 Minutes) – Non-Broadcast at the 45th Annual Telly Awards. This prestigious award recognizes excellence in video and television across all screens, judged by industry leaders from top video platforms, television networks, streaming services, and production companies.

This year’s Telly Awards saw fierce competition, with notable winners including Adobe, Calvin Klein, ESPN, LinkedIn, Mother Jones, MTC Entertainment Studios, NASA, the LA Clippers (NBA), PlayStation Studios, Sawhorse Productions, TelevisaUnivision, and more. LANC’s Beyond Fear was recognized among this illustrious group, earning accolades for its powerful storytelling and impactful message.

Beyond Fear, produced by LANC’s Chief Communications Officer, Helen Hobson, in collaboration with Front Runner Productions, delves into the harrowing experiences of three domestic violence survivors who found support and help through LANC. Through their heartfelt and deeply personal narratives, the documentary brings to light the often hidden and traumatic realities of domestic violence, celebrating the resilience and courage of these survivors as they strive to break free from abuse.

“The caliber of the work this season truly has reflected the theme of going beyond the frame. Our industry is experimenting with new technologies like never before, crafting truly compelling stories to draw attention to some of the world’s most pressing issues,” shares Telly Awards Managing Director Amanda Needham. “The Telly Awards is uniquely positioned to meet the industry where it’s actually making work, be that on television or TikTok.”

Helen Hobson expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating, “We worked tirelessly to honor the voices of our clients through Beyond Fear. This award is a testament to their bravery and the critical importance of telling their stories.”

This year marked a record-breaking milestone for the Telly Awards, with nearly 13,000 entries from across the globe. Winners were selected by the Telly Awards Judging Council, which includes prominent figures such as Nathalie Van Sasse Van Ysselt, VP of Design and Creative Services at MSG Sphere Studios; Barry Christie, Global Creative Lead at Meta Creative Shop; Farihah Zaman, Director and member of Brown Girl Doc Mafia; Aiden Darné, VP, Global Studio Lead at Shutterstock; and Malinda Wink, Executive Director at Minderoo Pictures.

For the full list of the 45th Annual Telly Awards winners, please visit www.tellyawards.com/winners.

To watch Beyond Fear, please visit: https://youtu.be/FyNTA8yfsDQ?si=DReCl41bMMoZf6Qk

About The Telly Awards

The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council—an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multiscreen industry The Telly Awards celebrates. Partners of The Telly Awards include the Gotham Institute, NAB, Stash, NYWIFT, LAPPG, Production Hub, Green the Bid, Video Consortium, and Series Fest. New Partners include FWD- Doc, AI Film Festival, Reel Abilities Film Festival, and Film Fatales.

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About Legal Aid of North Carolina

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.

Media Contact:

Helen Hobson, Chief Communications Officer, HelenH2@legalaidnc.org, 704-430-7616

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) unveiled its innovative LANCMobile unit at a launch event held yesterday, May 1st, at the Haywood County Public Library: Canton Branch. The event marked a significant step forward in the organization’s mission to provide vital legal services to underserved communities, particularly in disaster-stricken and rural areas. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured special remarks from LANC staff and the Mayor of Canton, NC, Zeb Smathers.

LANCMobile addresses a critical gap in the American justice system, where low-income individuals facing civil legal matters often lack adequate representation. According to recent studies, 92% of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal help. In North Carolina, approximately two million people, 18% of the population, are eligible for LANC services but face geographical barriers preventing access.

Born out of the pressing need exacerbated by natural disasters like Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, LANCMobile was established with a grant from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). The initiative aims to serve disaster-affected areas while also addressing broader issues of legal deserts and rural community neglect.

“Our primary purpose is to get people the assistance they need,” said Alicia Edwards, Project Director of LANC’s Disaster Relief Project. “We have two fully serviced offices inside where we can meet clients. We can come out to their community, screen them, deal with their legal issues, and provide fully serviced assistance right from the bus.”

Scheree Gilchrist, Chief Innovation Officer at LANC, emphasized LANCMobile’s broader mission beyond disaster relief. “We are going to take the bus and identify the areas that have the most need and work with our community partners to deliver those services,” Gilchrist stated.

The event garnered support from Mayor Zeb Smathers, who highlighted the significance of LANCMobile in bringing hope to communities in need. “This is where you affect people in the trenches… This is where you make a difference,” said Mayor Smathers. “Where y’all go and this bus goes, hope is not too far behind.”

LANCMobile’s impact extends beyond immediate legal aid provision. Through data-driven strategies and community partnerships, LANC aims to identify rural communities most in need and devise tailored solutions to overcome communication, infrastructure, and service accessibility challenges.

“This is a crucial step in our commitment to innovation and making a lasting impact in the communities we serve,” noted Gilchrist. “LANCMobile not only addresses immediate needs but also fosters a culture of community engagement, empowering rural communities to assert their rights and access legal resources.”

LANCMobile’s schedule can be found at legalaidnc.org/lancmobile.

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Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Learn more at legalaidnc.org. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.  

Media Contact 

Helen Hobson, Chief Communications Officer, 704-430-7616, HelenH2@legalaidnc.org