CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- The Gabriel Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church gave out roughly 200 bricks on Saturday, bricks that were salvaged after a fire destroyed the church in August.
The Church’s pastor, Sandi Hutchinson, told News 3 they planned to give the bricks away but asked for a donation. The community did not disappoint as about $1,200 was raised from the bricks giveaway.
“The fact that people were willing to be generous and make donations was a blessing,” Hutchinson told News 3.
Hutchinson said she was humbled by the generosity of not only her church members, but by community members who do not attend Gabriel Chapel.
The church dates back 150 years. That is older than the City of Chesapeake, which was founded in the 1960s
"It was of great value to share with people the history of that church and that community,” Hutchinson said, “to be able to give them something that they felt was even more valuable.
All of that money, she said, is going towards rebuilding a new church. They are in the planning stages right now, working on the design, and trying to get city approval before work can start.
Hutchinson said this will be a lengthy process, but added they are “right on track” to finish by their target date of November 2021.
