WorldCom fund helping laid off employees

(Jackson, Mississippi-AP) -- A group collecting money for former WorldCom employees has sent out its first check. <br><br>An Oklahoma woman is getting $1,500 to help her catch up on bills. <br><br>The

Wednesday, August 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Jackson, Mississippi-AP) -- A group collecting money for former WorldCom employees has sent out its first check.

An Oklahoma woman is getting $1,500 to help her catch up on bills.

The ex-WorldCom Employee Assistance Fund has collected about $8,000 in donations and contributions.

Fund treasurer Kate Lee didn't identify the Oklahoma woman, but says she would've been evicted from her apartment without financial help.

WorldCom filed for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy protection in July after reporting more than seven billion dollars in bogus accounting. The company had laid off 17-thousand employees in June.