SEBASTIAN — Five weeks ago, leadership at Coastal Community Church in Sebastian wasn’t sure they’d have enough money to put on their annual gas buy-down event. But, in the last few days, support poured in and so much was raised they were able to discount even more gas than thought possible.
“As we’ve grown, our congregation’s generosity has grown with it,” Pastor Seth Goldsmith said of being able to provide 2,800 gallons of fuel for 50 cents less than regularly priced.
For five years running, the church had been able to provide 2,000 gallons of discounted fuel.
This year, as last, the event was held at the Shark Mart Mobil station at the corner of County Roads 510 and 512.
“It’s wonderful to be helping people,” Shark Mart owner Mike Ibrahim said. An hour before the gas buy-down was to get underway, people had parked at the station, waiting to start the lineup.
“They’ve been calling,” Ibrahim said of customers who knew the buy-down was coming up.
First in line for the buy-down was 70-something-year-old Patti Bough, of Vero Beach, who arrived at 1:30 p.m.
“I was out anyway,” she said and didn’t want to miss out. “My car is on low fuel.”
Bough depends on Social Security to make ends meet and looks for ways to save money.
“I like to save every penny I can save,” she said.
The $10 she expected to be able to save, she planned to put into purchasing more gas, she said.
Bough explained that she usually has to monitor how much gas she buys so she doesn’t overspend.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said of what Coastal Community Church has done, buying down gasoline for the community. “I don’t know how they can do it, but it’s wonderful. Thank the church and God.”
Also in line was Sebastian resident Vicky Moss, who got to the gas station early to avoid the mob – as she called it.
Moss explained that she passed up the event last year because of the long line – this time, she was among the first to arrive.
“So what if I sit here an hour,” she said with her windows rolled down and car off. She said she planned to take the savings and put it toward helping her kids with back to school essentials like clothes and books.
“I have a kid going to college,” Moss said. “It’s not an easy thing to do.”
Stormy weather moved into the area shortly after getting started slowing down the pace of the cars lining up. Using facebook to get the word out, Pastor Goldsmith posted “very short line at gas buydown due to rain! Come on out and get discounted gas without much wait!” around 5 p.m. A few minutes later he posted “Stay dry in your car while we pump your gas!”
At 5:30 p.m., Shark Mart reported the church had given out 1,600 gallons of discounted gas and had another 1,200 to go.
Pastor Goldsmith said the church wants to show its unconditional support for the community, which led to the yearly gas buy-down event.
“We feel the public opinion of religion needs something like this,” he said. “This is unique to us.”
