The charity accused of fleecing Hurricane Katrina victims out of over $30,000 never gave survivors "a dime," according to a New Orleans local tapped with finding the neediest storm victims. "These people came down here, sold a good story and didn't deliver," said Louis Rainey. "We didn't get the funds ... We never got a dime."
Rainey told the Post that New Yorkers Organized to Assist Hurricane Families—the embattled charity created by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) and state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Queens)—never came through on its promise of helping 30 families displaced by the storm. When it was founded, Meeks reportedly told the Times-Ledger that having Rainey as an unpaid adviser was important "because you have people trying to take advantage of the situation." He added: "Every dime, every dime, will go to these 30 families."
Despite Meeks promises, filings reveal that the charity—which alongside another Meeks-tied nonprofit is under federal investigation—delivered only $1,392 of the $31,000 it raised. That donation might have been a truckload of used clothing, according to Rainey. "I think [Meeks is] a nice guy and hope he wouldn't steal from victims of Katrina," he said. "I hope that's not the case, but I'm damned sure going to find out."
Charity workers have stated they don't know what happened to the missing money, and Meeks has said that decisions regarding the money were made by the nonprofit's board.
