Trinity AME Zion Church in Sheraden in desperate need of repairs

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — From housing neighborhood packages to greater than doubling its congregation over the previous yr, there’s at all times one thing new occurring at Trinity AME Zion Church in Sheraden.

However the constructing is outdated and in determined want of repairs.

“After I arrived, I noticed a church with potential. That is why we now have the slogan, ‘Successful the long run one household at a time,’” mentioned Pastor Joshua Walker, who has been with the church for about one yr.

However the potential is just not the one factor this church has. It additionally had $80,000 in debt that has simply been paid off, nevertheless it nonetheless has a leaky roof, water harm on the ceiling, no H-VAC system and rotting home windows.

“The warmth is seeping out by the home windows. Most of our congregation is available in coats. Our children, they’re bundled up. We’re paying $4,000 to $5,000 in utilities,” mentioned Walker.

The warmth additionally tends to seep by a sequence of bullet holes within the stained-glass home windows within the vestibule, chapel and pastor’s workplace.

Church leaders mentioned the constructing was constructed within the Nineteen Thirties and few upgrades have been made since. The congregation was gifted the constructing for $1 in 2008 as a result of the earlier congregation folded, in keeping with leaders.

Debra Valentine Grey, a church administrator, crunched the numbers for the repairs and advised KDKA-TV that they’re “fairly near $300,000 due to the techniques and craftsmanship that’s required.”

Beginning with the home windows, the church is launching a marketing campaign on-line to assist pay for the restoration, which incorporates fortifying them with bulletproof glass. There can even be plaques on the home windows with the names of those that donated.

The church hopes to have a few of these fixes completed earlier than subsequent winter to keep away from a catastrophe prefer it lately had in its annex constructing, the place pipes burst and prompted flooding.

To study extra about how one can donate, try the church’s web site right here.