Orlando Churches Offer to Host Free Funerals for Victims of Shooting

 

 

A number of Orlando churches have offered their places of worship to families of shooting victims as funeral facilities free of charge.

 

The Huffington Post reports that a number of churches have extended the offer, including Forest Lake Seventh Day Adventist Church, Metro Church, and the Florida Hospital Church.

 

Some of the churches have not only offered their facilities, but have promised to provide food, ministers, counseling, or anything else the families may need for the services.

 

“People want to come to the assistance and the aid of people who are clearly devastated and there’s no barrier to that,” stated Forest Lake Pastor Bernie Anderson. “There’s nothing that will keep us from that. It’s a true expression of love. It’s just to say ‘This is my brother, this is my sister, these are people in need’ ... we have to be there.” 

 

Pastor Andy McDonald of the Hospital Church expressed similar sentiments: “If they need clergy, if they need help to plan the service, print programs — anything they would need to hold a funeral service we’d be happy to do that for them,” he told HuffPost.

 

Many in the city of Orlando have come together to support the families of the 49 victims who were shot early Sunday morning in a gay nightclub.

 

Businesses such as Chick-fil-A and JetBlue also helped in the aftermath of the tragedy. Chick-fil-A provided free meals to those who donated blood to hospitalized victims and JetBlue offered free flights for victims’ families.

 

“It really is about love,” said Anderson. “It’s about loving people and being present with people. That’s the true heart and character of our community and our city.”