A local house of worship was awarded a grant of 25 K last week for safety improvements.
Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam (BAPS) Swaminarayan Sanstha was awarded the funds through Nonprofit Security Grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
State Rep John Galloway facilitated the funds coming to the Levittown Hindu Temple.
The moneywill be used for safety and security planning, the purchase of safety and security equipment, safety and security training for staff members, and threat awareness and response training, according to a release.
The grant program was created with Act 83 of 2019 which directs Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to administer grants to nonprofit organizations that principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single-bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics Publication.
“I am very glad to see that this beautiful temple in Levittown will be able to bolster its security thanks to this state grant,” Galloway said. “Our places of worship are our spiritual homes. From birth to death, they are the place we go to pray, worship and make affirming connections with our faith community,” a release said.
The funds will also be used for the purchase of security-related technology, including, but not limited to, metal detectors, protective lighting, surveillance equipment, special emergency communications equipment, electronic locksets, deadbolts, trauma kits and theft-control devices.
“People must be able to go to their houses of worship knowing they are safe and free to worship without fear of violence,” Galloway said. “This grant will help keep Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha and its worshippers safe.”
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