Anna Beasley, director of adult advocacy with The Factory Ministries, 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, explained that causes of poverty work kind of like a game of dominoes. "We believe poverty is a lack of resources," stated Beasley, who listed the six areas of resources as intellectual, emotional, relational, financial, physical, and spiritual. "When you knock one of those down, they all fall down," she explained.
It is part of Beasley's job to help Factory participants see that while it's hard to stand all the dominoes up at the same time, focusing on one can often help right the others. To that end, Beasley and other advocates at The Factory work to connect participants with resources and set goals. "We are relationally based, so we provide a lot of relational support through the process," Beasley said. The Factory also offers learning tracks to help develop a future orientation. "(We help them see) that decisions (made) now affect them down the road," said Beasley, who noted that sessions may include discussion of ways to earn money or budget while setting up to connect participants with resources.
Connecting participants to resources, which are often located in Lancaster, in a manner that is comfortable is important to the advocates. Whenever possible, participants are given a warm handoff via a joint meeting or other type of introduction. "It's very overwhelming for those in a rural area to deal with resources in the city," explained Beasley. "We want to bridge that gap as best we can." She noted that a bus from the city does stop at The Factory to facilitate transportation needs.
In addition to providing relational services through advocates, Beasley said, programs such as the Community Care Team that meets at 2 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month help clients to build other relationships within the community. A new group dubbed Learning Together, which will meet the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at The Factory, will give participants a chance to learn something new, earn Factory Bucks (which can be used in The Factory Food Pantry), and find new community. "Agencies and organizations can only do so much, but people can help people," said Beasley. "When people give and help (others), it changes their own lives."
Adults who could benefit from participating at The Factory may call 717-687-9594 or email anna@thefactoryministries.com. Readers who would like to learn more about The Factory may visit https://thefactoryministries.com.
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