Catalyst for Change

The Factory Ministries serves as a catalyst to bring communities together and empower them to develop strategic alliances in order to reach out to their community as a unified team. It is our vision that each sector of a community (whether church, school, government, organization, business or families) see themselves as part of a piece of a puzzle and see their role in helping those who are struggling with issues of poverty. The Factory Ministries partners very closely with The Family Center of Gap and The Pequea Valley School District in its efforts to be a catalyst for Change.

Community Action Network

The Factory has developed a network of resources in the Pequea Valley area of eastern Lancaster County and is mobilizing and army to reclaim our community from the grasp of poverty and isolation. The mission of C.A.N. is to create a movement where "together we can make a difference". The Factory is mobilizing through the following programs:

"I CAN HELP" program - The premise of this program is that everyone can do something to help those in need. Each person is asked to help in a specific way. A database of these volunteer resources allows us to match needs with resources in our community. If you want to volunteer, click here.

"MAKING A LIVING, MAKING A DIFFERENCE" - This program allows our businesses to give back to our community. Each business that is involved in this program commits to four things:

1. Offer their services to help families in poverty with needs that match their service
2. Provide basic benevolent funds for families in crisis
3. Provide and encourage service opportunities to their employees
4. Provide poverty educational workshops for their employees

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS - The Factory partners with The Pequea Valley High School Guidance Counselor and The Family Center of Gap to provide quarterly workshops were we raise the awareness of poverty and motivate those with resources to partner together to make a difference.

Poverty Task Force

The Factory Ministries, in partnership with The Family Center of Gap has developed a poverty task force. The task force exists as a strategic think-tank in helping brainstorm and implement community wide efforts in helping families in poverty. Our task force is made up of the following:

Churches - Pastors from Grace Point Church of Paradise and Gap Community Church
Townships - Representatives from Paradise Township, Leacock Township and Salisbury Township
Businesses - Dutchland, Inc and Paradise Custom Kitchens/Doutrich Homes
Organizations - The Factory Ministries and The Family Center of Gap
Pequea Valley School District - various representatives
HACC representation
Amish representation

The task force meets quarterly and is currently planning a cooperative effort for the holiday 2011 season.