Faith-based orgs receive grant fundings to secure against hate

Archbishop Timothy Paul announces a fundraising effort to help the congregation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Presbyterian Church in 2021 that was heavily damaged by a fire that was intentionally set in 2020.
Republican file photo

SPRINGFIELD — Six faith-based Springfield nonprofits were recently awarded state grants to ensure they remain safe in an atmosphere in which threats and hate crimes have become commonplace.

The Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant and Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant programs award grants to nonprofits that have a demonstrated need, such as having received threats or experienced hate crimes, and have identified cost-effective solutions to high priority security issues.

In total, the state awarded $5 million to 167 Massachusetts organizations, including faith-based institutions, health care facilities and human service agencies.

“Nonprofits and faith-based organizations play a vital role in supporting families and strengthening our communities, and they deserve to operate without fear of violence or intimidation,” state Sen. Adam Gómez, who serves Springfield in the Hampden District, said in a press release. “These grants will help organizations in Springfield and across the Commonwealth take meaningful steps to protect their staff, members, and facilities. At a time when many communities face rising threats and hate incidents, investing in safety ensures that people can gather, worship, and access services with confidence.”

Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Presbyterian Church is one organization that has had first-hand experience with hate crimes. On Dec. 28, 2020, a man set fire to the church and was later charged with federal hate crimes for the blaze, which gutted the interior of the structure.

“We’ve been trying to make sure we’ve secured the church since then,” Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery said. When the church was rebuilt, leaders collaborated with owner’s project manager My-Ron Hatchett to incorporate security throughout the structure. The grant the church received this year will be used to add additional cameras to the property. Curry Avery said the church may apply for a nonprofit security personnel grant next year.

“As a congregation, we have tried to heal our grief,” Curry Avery said. “We continue to serve the community. We continued to have weekly service throughout the whole five years. It’s really just about uplifting our community.”

Antisemitism has also been on the rise in the United States. “We have many windows people can either shoot into or observe those inside,” explained Richard Alpert, president of Sinai Temple Endowment Trust.

Most of the funding will be used to help fortify the windows, but some of it will allow the temple to install two security cameras facing the temple’s parking lot. To identify the temple’s security needs, Alpert said the trust consulted with the Springfield Police Department and Andrew Hoffman, deputy regional security advisor for the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts.

Alpert emphasized that there have not been any threats or incidents at the temple. “It’s all proactive. We’ve done a lot to improve our security.” This includes requiring security fobs to access the temple, employing a guard at events and stationing a greeter at the temple entrance, who would recognize anyone unfamiliar.

Alpert credited Mechilia “Chile” Salazar, the chief development officer at the Springfield Jewish Community Center, for helping the trust apply for the grant. “It’s a good example of collaboration between two Jewish organizations,” he said.

“We’re very grateful for the funding,” Alpert said. He noted that the temple spends between $30,000 and $35,000 each year on security. He said Jewish organizations across the country have stepped up the amount of money they spend on security each year.

The other Springfield nonprofits to receive the grants were First Baptist Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Greater Springfield, Pope Francis Preparatory School, and Springfield Jewish Community Center.