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WATCH: Indy FOP surprises church who lost Christmas gifts, food in fire after seeing story on RTV6

Church Donation from FOP 122020.JPG
Posted at 11:31 AM, Dec 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-20 19:27:55-05

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis church that has faced double tragedies in the past few weeks got a holiday boost from the local Fraternal Order of Police who saw their story after it aired on RTV6.

The Church of Lord Jesus Christ near Miller and Krappes roads suffered around $100,000 in damage and lost over $1,000 worth of presents that were wrapped and waiting for families for Christmas when their church caught fire early Thursday morning.

The fire happened just weeks after the church lost their pastor, Chris Smith, in a November 29 shooting at Jake's Pub. Smith was killed during his own bachelor party.

READ | Tragedy strikes Indy church twice before Christmas

After the church's story aired on RTV6 Thursday evening, multiple people, including Rick Snyder with the Indy FOP, reached out to reporter Stephanie Wade to offer the church some help.

"Stephanie with the news here -- she’s a friend of ours. We interact with her and Channel 6 a lot. Last night, we saw the story about what happened here and we really are sorry for your loss and everything you guys are going through," Snyder told the members of the church. "While you’re on bend and knee, we want to extend a helping hand to help lift you up and remind him that there’s hope. So we heard the story about the Christmas presents. We want to give you... these are two gift cards. Each one is $500."

We were there Friday morning when the Midwest Food Bank and Indy FOP surprised the church with 100 boxes of food that will provide 400 meals for the neighborhood and two $500 Meijer gift cards to help buy new presents.

"This is a blessing. It’s a blessing how your story and getting us out there it just refill some of the stuff that’s lost at this church," Pastor Gary Mann said. "Just our prayers are answered and it’s just a blessing that somebody would have the heart to do this much for our church in this time of need.”

You can watch the surprise delivery from the Indy FOP and Midwest Food Bank below.