Days following the shooting of its pastor and eight parishioners in South Carolina last week, donations continue to flood not only the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church where the tragic incident occurred but also other mainly African-American houses of worship in America.
Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley admitted feeling overwhelmed at the outpouring of support, prayers, and donations to a fund drive, which is aimed at helping the bereaved families of the nine people who were shot dead during a Bible study in Charleston last Wednesday.
"I've got $110,000 in checks in my pocket. It's wonderful," Riley said.
In an interview, Riley said he was not actually surprised on the number of strangers sending checks and prayers, saying he knew Charleston would show love instead of hate even in the darkest hours as details of the hate crime started to emerge.
An unnamed female parishioner, who answered the phone at the Emanuel AME Church, failed to confirm the total amount that her Church has received since alleged gunman Dylan Roof attacked the historic black church.
"I can't give an estimate at this time, but it's a lot," the parishioner told Fox News.
According to the TV network, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was among those who donated money, giving a total of $100,000 or $10,000 to each family of the nine victims, as well as the church.
Others like Rabbi Abraham Cooper simply joined in a prayer of unity and support for Charleston.
Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and director of the center's digital terrorism and hate project, described the Charleston shooting as "an attack on every house of worship in the United States."
"Every person who was there wanted to be there to express solidarity with their faith community that was hurting," said Cooper.
"In the Jewish Orthodox religion, we respect other houses of faith, but we don't usually go to them. I just needed to be there," he added.
Meanwhile, actor and producer Tyler Perry, who was raised in the historic Charleston church, expressed how he felt about the tragedy on Facebook.
"I grew up in the AME Church. My aunt and uncle are pastors and a bishop in the church. I know these kinds of prayer meetings well and I've been in a lot of them. It could have been any of us," he said, according to the Gospel Herald.
"The AME church, so close to home for me, so personal. What do you do when you think prayer is not enough? You pray some more. My heart and soul go out to the families of Emmanuel AME church," he added.
