NEW YORK (BP)–The New York Yankees, though just in spring training, stepped up to the plate to assist a Bronx church and its soup kitchen after a break-in.
The Yankees, whose stadium also is in the Bronx, presented a check for $20,000 to Daniel Dupree and Greater Universal Baptist Church on Feb. 23 to cover losses the church sustained during the Feb. 7 burglary.
The Yankees “are truly a blessing,” said Dupree, who has served as Greater Universal’s pastor for 10 of the Southern Baptist church’s 52 years. “We believe God placed it on their hearts to come through for us.”
When Dupree arrived at the church on the morning of Feb. 8, the building had been ransacked; the church’s safe, a television camera and various office supplies were missing. Dupree estimates less than $5,000 was stolen from the safe, but the total loss to the church was around $20,000. There was no sign of a break-in and a police investigation continues.
Local news stations covered the story of Greater Universal closing its soup kitchen until the funds were replaced and security measures could be installed. Because of the Yankees’ donation, the kitchen, which feeds about 125 people in the Bronx two days a week, will reopen.
The team was made aware of Greater Universal’s situation through Bronx Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.
“When we heard what had happened to our neighbor, we wanted to reach out and enable them to continue their much-needed community service,” said Lonn Trost, the Yankees’ chief operating officer, in a press release issued by the team.
The donation will go toward replacing the lost items as well as a security system, and Dupree says the Yankees’ gift to the church proves “they’re more than just a baseball team. Their generosity has forged connections in the community and raised awareness of and appreciation for the kitchen.” Dupree compares his church’s story to Genesis 50:20: “God turned into good what [some] meant for evil.”
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Meredith Day is a communications associate with New Hope New York, part of the North American Mission Board’s Strategic Focus Cities initiative.
