MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Foundation has now collected more than half a million dollars for the victims of the Christmas Day fire at the Drake Hotel, but a number of the victims are growing frustrated with how, and how fast, the money is being put to use.
Edgardo Reyes says he lived and worked at the Drake with his wife and four-month-old child, and he says he’s grateful that he hasn’t had to rely solely on the money raised by the Minneapolis Foundation.
"Everything has been donated by the church,” Reyes said, referencing a GoFundMe.com page set up by Substance Church members in Minneapolis.
"All those people, that I don't even know, said, ‘Man we've got to help this guy. We've got to help his family. We've got to help his daughter,’” Reyes said. “Everything I have here, is because of them.”
So far, he says the only thing he received from the Minneapolis Foundation has been a $250 check for his family.
"I've got enough common sense to know that $200 isn't going to help a human being,” he said.
The Minneapolis Foundation says it's now received $518,000 dollars in donations. About $145,000 has been spent.
- $50,000 to the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center for meals and supplies.
- $25,000 to the Folwell Neighborhood Association to cover immediate housing needs like direct deposits and application fees.
- $40,000 to First Covenant Church to provide a temporary shelter.
- $18,000 in Target gift cards and cash.
- $11,758 to the Cultural Wellness Center to help first responder and navigation efforts to help families.
They vow the remaining money will be accounted for and used to address long term needs of each individual and family.
“I’m worried about the monies that were given, by the people, for the victims not allocated the way they should be,” Reyes said. “That's my concern. I could care less what I get. I'm already safe."
The Folwell Neighborhood Association says it is making progress with that money donated to, and disbursed by, the Minneapolis Foundation. This weekend, the group tells KARE11 that it cut about $10,000 in checks to directly help 7 families get into long-term housing.