Church of the Redeemer’s rector, the Rev. Charleston Wilson, said the Culverhouse Benevolence Fund represents the church in action.
[Church of the Redeemer — Sarasota, Florida] Church of the Redeemer in downtown Sarasota has partnered with parishioner Hugh Culverhouse Jr. to establish the Culverhouse Benevolence Fund to help those in the parish and wider Sarasota community who are facing economic hardships because of the government shutdown
The fund was formed with a $200,000 matching gift from Culverhouse. Redeemer is now seeking to raise an additional $200,000 or more through contributions from parishioners, friends and community members.
Redeemer has two priorities for the Culverhouse Benevolence Fund: to help Redeemer parishioners in need and to assist people in the wider Sarasota community who face economic challenges. This is being done by assisting vulnerable children at the parish’s partner school, Alta Vista Elementary, which is the closest Title I school to Redeemer. Title I schools have high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families.
The parish will also make donations to other at-risk community members in various ways that will continue to be shared.
“This is not a political statement — both sides are to blame,” the Rev. Charleston Wilson, Redeemer’s rector, said. “No one should be hung out to dry because of political brinksmanship. This is the church in action, and this is how it was originally in the household of God — they took care of each other.”
Beyond financial assistance, Redeemer has encouraged its parishioners to volunteer in the following ways: delivering meals with Meals on Wheels of Sarasota, donating diapers to Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center, volunteering at Alta Vista Elementary’s food closet, volunteering with St. Wilfred Episcopal Church’s food pantry and volunteering with Resurrection House.
Redeemer is acting quickly to help meet urgent needs. The fund began allocating benefits on Nov. 5.
“We have many needy persons among us and in our community — through no fault of their own — and I’m thankful Redeemer is taking the lead locally, sharing love and light in places that feel terribly dark right now,” Wilson said. “Through the generosity of parishioners and friends, hundreds of people in our community are receiving critical support for basic needs. As Christians, we don’t need to wait on politicians to provide solutions. We love each other and help each other.”
To contribute to the Culverhouse Benevolence Fund and have a donation matched, visit RedeemerSarasota.org and click on the red “Culverhouse Benevolence Fund” button.