Churches, boxing gyms rely on local communities to avoid closures
Boxing teaches you to roll with the punches. Spirituality teaches us to keep faith.
“We've been doing this voluntarily on our own,” says Rocky DeFrank. Boxing His trainer and pastor, DeFrank imparts wisdom for overcoming adversity and never backing down through Beautiful His Feet His Ministry and Youngstown Salem Boxing His Gym.
“Some days we'll have six or seven kids, and other days we'll have 35 or 40,” DeFrank explained. His nonprofit also helps the homeless and dependents.
After losing his stepfather unexpectedly last year, and then losing his brother in a shooting incident (the circumstances of which are still under investigation), DeFrank has been forced to live his faith like never before in his life.
“It's not about practicing what you preach, it's about following the word of God…and I had already lost another brother to a drug overdose,” DeFrank said, fighting back tears. Ta.
His and his wife's finances were strained, and they were behind on rent for their gym and church.
Now they are on the verge of closing.
“So we set up a GoFundMe,” DeFrank said. “I have to prepare $6,000 by May 15th, and another $8,800 by June 15th.The rent is $2,800, but I have to prepare another $6,000. I have to come up with $12,000.”
DeFrank has several car washes planned in the coming weeks and will also hold a boxing tournament on June 15th to raise money.
In the meantime, he hopes the community he has worked so hard to serve is in his corner.
“We just want people to believe in what we're doing,” DeFrank said. “We have so much we can do for the community. So far it's been a blessing. I just don't want to get up and leave here.”
Click here to donate to GoFundMe. You can also send CashApp donations to $Aleciad33 and $Lovecastoutfear75. You can also find out more on Facebook.