I get chills thinking about the changes over the years," said Carissa Pinkard, director of development with The Factory Ministries. Pinkard is working to plan the upcoming 30th anniversary celebration of the ministry, which began as a youth center in a former sewing factory. "Imagine all that has gone on the last 30 years, last 20, last 10," Pinkard added.

The Factory Ministries' 30th anniversary gala will be held on Tuesday, June 18, at Palm Court at the Willow Valley/DoubleTree Resort, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster. A VIP hour will be held at 5 p.m., and the event will begin at 6 p.m., with an 8 p.m. dessert and social hour. The celebration will feature a speaker, a silent auction, and a live appeal.

The Factory is a faith-based organization with a mission that reads in part, "Because of what Jesus has done for us, we believe that everyone's journey matters." The organization endeavors to offer services and programs to empower whole families and impact "real people with real problems."

Adam Nagle, executive director of the ministry, will speak about the history of The Factory, with special focus on the last five years. "There will be people in attendance that don't know much about The Factory, so we will want to take this opportunity to really share not only where we have come from and how we've grown, but why we're here and what we plan to do and keep doing," said Pinkard.

A silent auction of about 200 items will feature signed sports memorabilia, items related to singer Taylor Swift and other celebrities, and exclusive travel experiences. Items donated by local businesses will also be included. Communications director Ellie Green noted that pearl is the 30th anniversary gem. "We are really excited about some pearl items we will have," she stated. "There will be an authentic pearl in the silent auction."

The live appeal will be presented by auctioneer Andy Keller. "We are a vessel for the community to care for one another, which is a huge honor," noted Green. "This event is an opportunity to talk about what's been going on and what we are hoping for in the future." Green went on to say that the community leaders, business leaders, and donors in attendance will have the chance to invest in and be a part of the work of The Factory.

Pinkard noted that while recommended attire for the event is formal, organizers do not want anyone to feel excluded by that requirement. "We are not expecting men to wear tuxedoes or women long dresses," she said. "(Wear) what would you wear to an evening wedding. It could be a tuxedo, a suit, or dress slacks and a tie. It's a formal event, but (we want guests to) be comfortable."

A number of table sponsorship packages are available. Individual tickets may be purchased at http://www.thefactoryministries.com by clicking on the "30th Gala Event" button or by calling 717-847-9982.