The following is a list of prayer and memorial services planned to honor the victims and families of Wednesday’s shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Also listed is information about fundraising initiatives for the church and victims’ families.
We will update this list as new information becomes available.
Services Planned
— The City of Charleston will host a prayer vigil on Friday at 6 p.m. at the College of Charleston’s TD Arena, 66 George Street. Space is limited and seating will be on a first come first serve basis. Meeting Street will be closed between Calhoun and George streets starting at 5 p.m. until the conclusion of the event. Congestion is expected so motorists are asked to avoid this area if possible. Free parking will be available at the following City of Charleston parking garages: 34 St. Philip Street garage; Wentworth garage; Gaillard garage. Attendees are asked not to bring bags to the event. Bags will be searched.
— St. Luke Reform Episcopal Church, 60 Nassau St., Charleston, is hosting a prayer vigil tonight at 7 p.m. It’s open to people of all denominations.
— The chapel at Church of Our Saviour on Johns Island is open for prayer, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. through Saturday. Services are open to people of all faiths and denominations. There will be a special book of condolences that will be bound and sent to Mother Emanuel AME Church next week to offer a written prayers and messages.
— Unity Church of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave., Charleston, will hold and interfaith prayer service Saturday at 10 a.m. Hindu, Muslim, Interfaith, Buddhist and Christian ministers will speak.
— An interdenominational intercessory prayer vigil will be held at noon tomorrow at Saint John’s Reformed Episcopal Church, 91 Anson St., Charleston.
— The South Carolina Progressive Network is calling for the community to gather on the Gervais St. side of the State House on Saturday, June 20, 6-7 p.m. There will be a short program. People are advised to bring water, lawn chairs and a shade umbrella.
— A previously planned event, the Unity Music and Arts Festival, is still planned for Saturday, noon-6 p.m., at the Family Circle Tennis Center Grand Lawn on Daniel Island. Donations will be taken up, and contributed to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund. Read more about that fund below.
— Advent Lutheran Church and Zion Olivet Presbyterian Church, 3347 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, will gather on Zion Olivet’s front steps at 9:50 a.m. Sunday for prayer and ringing bells for Emanuel AME’s victims.
— Charleston’s churches will join together to ring their bells in unison starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 21. Residents and visitors are encouraged to participate in the show of solidarity by standing respectfully outside participating churches and ringing personal hand bells if so desired. The social media tag for the event is #CharlestonUnited.
— Greater Goodwill AME Church, 2818 Hwy. 17 N., Mt. Pleasant, is hosting a prayer vigil, Sunday, June 21, 5 p.m.
— Lowcountry residents have launched a grassroots effort to organize a “unity chain,” in which people will form a chain holding hands across the Ravenel Bridge, in memory of those who lost their lives in Wednesday night’s shooting. That’s planned for Sunday at dusk. You are asked to spread the word via social media. Organizers are hoping for at least 3,000 people to participate in order to completely spread across the bridge.
Donations
— During a press conference Thursday, Mayor Joe Riley announced the creation of the “Mother Emanuel Hope Fund,” proceeds of which will be donated to the families of Wednesday’s shooting victims. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo branch or city office; by mailing a check made out to “Mother Emanuel Hope Fund” to P.O. Box 304, Charleston, SC 29402; by texting ‘prayforcharleston’ to 843-606-5995; or online at www.bidr.co/prayforcharleston.
Boeing, which manufactures its 787 Dreamliner in North Charleston, announced Thursday it is donating $100,000 to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund to help provide for the needs of the families of victims.
Thursday, Edmund’s Oast restaurant and the Charleston RiverDogs each announced they would donate their proceeds from the night to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund.
— Another fundraising account, called the “Lowcountry Ministries – Reverend Pinckney Fund,” has been established by The Palmetto Project. Those groups say 100 percent of the funds donated will be used to support local initiatives. Decisions on the use of the funds will be made by members of the Rev. Pinckney’s family, colleagues, Emanuel AME’s congregation and other members of our community selected for their specific expertise. These donations will be tax deductible.
Donations can be made by sending a check to “Lowcountry Ministries – Reverend Pinckney Fund,” c/o The Palmetto Project, 6296 Rivers Ave., Bldg. #100, North Charleston, SC 29406; or by donating online at www.palmettoproject.org On Friday, Jesus People for Animals, PETA’s Christian outreach division, delivered a letter to Emanuel AME offering condolences, along with a $720 donation from its staff members, who took up a collection to show their support for the community.
Cancellations / Postponements
— Today, Charleston mayoral candidate John Tecklenburg announced that his campaign has postponed its planned Victory Launch Week, a series of public events, including the Victory Launch fundraiser at Baker Motor Company, that were to have taken place June 22-28.
“In light of the tragic events Wednesday night at Mother Emanuel, now is not a time for politics,” Tecklenburg said. “Now is a time for prayer and reflection, for shared strength and common purpose, and, ultimately, for hope and for healing. That will be the work of our city for some time to come.”
Tecklenburg is calling for supporters to make a donation to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund.
— Americans for Peace, Prosperity and Security has postponed a national security forum with former Senator Rick Santorum in light of Wednesday’s shootings. Originally scheduled for June 23, the event will now be June 30.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims of the terrible attack in Charleston,” the group said.
Continue checking this story and ABCNews4.com for further updates.
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