Evil Empire?

N.Y. Yankees aid burglarized SBC church
Published March 16, 2006
The Christian Index

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.

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.