Religious groups raising money to help those laid off by A.C. casinos

Starting this weekend, faith-based groups in Atlantic City are working to create a fund to help the thousands who lost casino jobs this year. 

The inter-faith group called Together AC is trying to raise $1.5 million to help laid-off casino workers pay their bills.

Kaleem Shabazz of the Masjid Muhammad Mosque says the group is receiving help from Atlantic City Long Term Recovery Group, a Superstorm Sandy relief outfit to vet applicants and determine their need.

“This group has the infrastructure in place, it has trained and qualified social service workers to do the intake work on people seeking assistance,” Shabazz said. “They have an audit system to make sure we have financial accountability in the funds that are collected.”

Shabazz says they won’t be giving cash assistance, rather paying bills directly.

“We will send the money to the electric company the gas company or to the mortgage company whatever vendor it happens to be.”

The goal is to help out 1,500 people at first, more if they exceed their fund-raising goals.