Crowd-funding campaign helps church get a new boiler just in time for Christmas

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Some warm Christmas wishes from Milwaukee's Redeemer Lutheran Church after the century-old parish suffered a boiler breakdown this past fall.

The church launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise the $60,000 needed to replace the boiler, and that new boiler is now in place just in time for Christmas services.

The first donation to the crowd-funding campaign came from a man whom church leaders say truly embodies the Christmas spirit.

"The very first donation was five one dollar bills from a man who comes here for lunch sometimes. I walked over to the chalkboard and wrote, Redeemer Boiler Fund, five," Lisa Bates-Froiland with Redeemer Lutheran Church said.

Church members are active in feeding the homeless through a meal program.

Redeemer Lutheran is a smaller congregation near Marquette University.