Westerville Church Collects $625K For Jobless

WESTERVILLE, Ohio—Members of an Ohio church have pitched in to raise more than $625,000 for fellow worshippers who have lost their jobs.

The Rev. Rich Nathan says that’s about three times the amount raised in a typical Sunday collection at the Vineyard Church of Columbus. Nathan says he told his congregation that anyone with a job during this recession has a responsibility to help the unemployed.

The money was collected during a special collection on Palm Sunday.

The church will use the donation to open a second food pantry, hire a social worker at its community center and expand its financial counseling and job placement services.

Vineyard Church is a non-denominational Christian church in Westerville in suburban Columbus.

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