Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Katrina Victims Say They "Never Got A Dime" From Charity
By
Ben Muessig
Published Feb 22, 2010
Modified Feb 22, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Feb 22, 2010
Modified Feb 22, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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.
Tagged
charity
louis rainey
meeks
money
New Direction Local Development Group
new Yorkers Organized to Assist Hurricane Families
nonprofit
queens
rep. gregory meeks
scam
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
Construction crews will jack up sagging floors where two key structural columns bent in July.
By
David Brand
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 1:54 p.m. ET
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
A city investigation discovered that when the bus arrived at its destination in Crown Heights, one student was lying in a pool of urine.
By
Jessica Gould
News
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
A city investigation discovered that when the bus arrived at its destination in Crown Heights, one student was lying in a pool of urine.
By
Jessica Gould
NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them
By
Clayton Guse
Queens mother charged with murder in death of 5-year-old daughter, NYPD says
By
Ryan Kost
NYC’s whiplash weather continues into weekend with heavy winds, chilly temps, NWS says
By
Monica Melton
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .