From the Session of Chapin Pres.
updated 03-20-24
Early yesterday morning (03-18-24), the Dinkins’ family home was engulfed in a fire and subsequently burned down. The home and all of its contents were a total loss. Thankfully, those that were in the home at the time of the fire safely escaped without harm. By God’s good grace, Scott, Sandy and their six children are safe, but now face the daunting challenge of rebuilding from the ground up.
Last night (03-18-24), an emergency session meeting was held for the purposes of praying for our senior pastor’s family, seeking the Lord’s will, and working on behalf of CPC to help prioritize and channel restorative efforts for what is ahead for the family. At this point, there is simply nothing they don’t need. However, during times like these, it can be very easy for well-intended efforts of support to overwhelm the recipients. It is important that we do what we can to help facilitate a measured response that offers the family the aid that they need, as they need it, while helping minimize the stress that can accompany such a large recovery effort.
Today’s communication is likely the first of several that will attempt to keep you informed with careful regard of the needs and priorities of the family. It is important to note that the needs of the next few days will likely differ greatly to the needs that will arise in the coming months. It is our goal to walk along side of the Dinkins family with you during the entirety of the process and keep you regularly apprised of priorities, familial needs, answered prayers, and steady acknowledgement of how the Lord is being revealed through this tragedy.
In addition to your prayers today, there are a couple immediate ways to support the Dinkins family financially:
1. For pressing needs, gift cards can have the quickest and most direct impact. When Scott and Sandy were asked what gift cards may be most helpful to them, they suggested Amazon, Sam’s Club, Target, Publix and La Fogata. If it helps you to drop them off at the church office, we have a process in place to deliver them directly to the family.
2. Give a non-tax deductible donation to Chapin Presbyterian Church either online or via personal check with “MERCY” in the memo line. The CPC Mercy Ministry is designed in part to help community families in times of need. While we are unable to designate your contribution specifically to the Dinkins family, our church will be offering them support through this ministry just as we would any family in need.
3. For those outside of the church family, we recognize that GoFundMe is a recognizable vehicle used to benefit those in time of need. If gift cards are not an option, we can confirm that this link for GoFundMe is legitimate, and that the Dinkins family will receive the proceeds:
- GoFundMe -
We are certainly aware of other efforts being circulated on social media. Our community is a loving one, and watching people rally around the Dinkins family is a blessing in and of itself. While we certainly wouldn’t thwart any act of goodwill towards the family, we do want to act prudently and with the input of the family in what we recommend to you. We will be working with the family to set up additional avenues of giving and will communicate those as they become available.
In the next 24-48 hours, the family will be completing a gift registry on Amazon.com. Once that link becomes available, we will share it with the congregation. The primary aim of a registry is to allow the family members to designate very specific items that may be needed in order to resume the normal activities of their life as well as beginning to rebuild a home from the inside out.
Lastly, as we move forward together alongside Scott, Sandy, and their children, we know that the family would covet your daily prayers. Each day will bring new understanding and new decisions. Please pray for discernment during this time. As we learn more, we will communicate updates as we receive them and advise of any changing needs.
