Displaced New Orleanians Rally For Recovery Fund

Pictured [l to r] are the organizers of the fundraising drive, Brad Poser and Kathy Thibeault, along with United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area's COO Al Sassone.

New Orleans Natives Kathy Thibeault and Brad Poser were forced to relocate to the Northeast after Hurricane Katrina, but never forgot about their home and neighbors in the bayou state.

They now live in Hudson, New York, and work for their local United Way (United Way of Columbia & Greene Counties, Inc.,). The pair were featured in a local newspaper article entitled “Evacuees in Town” and decided to use their celebrity to raise funds to help those impacted by the hurricane.

The Hudson Community was very responsive to the fundraising tactics, eagerly donating furniture, clothing, and money.  Even local inmates donated nearly $700 towards Katrina Recovery.
 
Additionally, United Way of Columbia  & Greene Counties, Inc., held an event during Hudson’s Annual Winter Walk at Time & Space Limited to benefit The United Way Disaster Recovery Fund.  The event featured Louisiana Cajun food along with other culinary delights, an arts and crafts auction, and music from two of the Northeast’s most popular Cajun & Zydeco bands, The Back Porch Rockers Cajun Dance Band (with special guest Jesse Lege) and L’il Anne & Hot Cayenne.

Thibeault and Poser recently returned to New Orleans to present United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area with a check for more than $2,500.

“I organized Katrina Fundraising for personal reasons.  It was good for me,” said Thibeault.