According to the fundraisers, Bedford Park Congregational Church, located at 309 East 201st Street in Bedford Park, was founded in 1889. The stone sanctuary building was built in 1892 and was awarded landmark status in 2000 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

“It may be warm now, but Bedford Park Congregational Church is facing a cold future,” organizers of the fundraiser said. “The 1080-gallon oil tank that supplies the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall boiler is leaking and needs an emergency infusion of cash to pay for clean-up and a replacement oil tank before the weather turns cold in a few months. 

The organizers say they need to address the issue before the sanctuary is too cold to use or before the water pipes freeze and burst. They added that the cost is not an expense they can pay over time, like they pay their electric and oil bills. It has to be paid within the next two months. 

“We have been proudly self-sufficient for 133 years, but now we face a large and immediate expense that we cannot afford,” the organizers wrote in a press release announcing the fundraiser. The group added that the church provides space for local support groups battling addictions, as well as other congregations. “Please help us keep our doors open and our buildings warm and welcoming to all who use them,” they added.

The organizers went on to explain that non-profit fundraisers work in the following way. Donations are typically 100 percent tax deductible in the U.S. The donation is made to PayPal Giving Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, to benefit the chosen charity. PayPal Giving Fund will grant every donation to Bedford Park Congregational Church within 15 to 45 days, or 90 days if the charity has not yet enrolled*.

“Help us return to self-sufficiency,” the organizers said, adding, “We will pursue a green energy solution if your generosity far exceeds our goal. Help us go green!”

To donate, click on this link.