Photo: Karyn Regal
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio)— A historic church in Roxbury just received a historic gift.
The Twelfth Baptist Church received a donation of one million dollars Monday from King Boston, a local nonprofit. King Boston is an organization focusing on the creation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Boston as well as other community initiatives.
While in Boston, King worked and worshipped at the Twelfth Baptist Church around 70 years ago. The church's senior pastor Rev. Willie Bodrick II told WBZ's Karyn Regal(@KarynRegal) the church was humbled by the gift, which is the largest in the church's history.
"We've been working tirelessly during this pandemic to make sure we've been serving our communities," Bodrick said.
Bodrick said the church plans to use the funds from this gift to help support their food pantry and a program to help those who were formerly incarcerated. The Twelfth Baptist's food pantry helps feed over 200 families a week.
King Boston announced the gift Monday at an event held at the church. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey attended the ceremony.
Janey spoke about the importance of the gift and the work of the Twelfth Baptist Church, which she attends.
"This gift is important because it will help continue that work around food insecurity," Janey said. "The work that the Black church has always done. A place where folks have organized, a place where people have sought refuge from the storm."
WBZ's Karyn Regal(@KarynRegal) attended the event.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App