Who We Are

Mobilizing the church to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ

Mission

Love INC of Greater Hershey mobilizes local churches to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ.  Together with church and community partners, Love INC helps to facilitate solutions that lift up individuals and families in need.

Vision

Our vision is to unite Christians in purpose and be fully engaged in actively living out their faith by lovingly serving people in need so that they experience the love of Christ.

 

Our History

Love INC of Greater Hershey launched in 2006 as the result of area churches sharing a passion to serve people in need. Through research and collaboration, their leaders established a solution by paving the way for an affiliate of Love INC National to open in their community. Over these past sixteen years, Love INC of Greater Hershey has expanded its network to include twenty-one partnering churches who willingly share their resources to support the broader community. In turn, Love INC provides the scaffolding that connects caring church volunteers with their neighbors in need.

In addition to our church network, Love INC of Greater Hershey partners with agencies and area businesses to pool resources, empower community members, and connect individuals to appropriate services.

Today, the programs of Love INC of Greater Hershey include: The Connection Center (TCC), Personal Care Closet (PCC), Parsonage Ministry, Homes of Hope transitional housing program, Faith and Finances, and coordinating supportive transportation.

Core Values

These core values are common to all Love INC Affiliates and help define who we are and why we exist.

  • We are Christian. Everything we think, say, and do is in the name of Christ.
  • Prayer is an integral part of who we are.
  • We follow Christ’s example of valuing the poor and needy.
  • We value unity of the Body of Christ.
  • We value transformation in the lives of people and communities.
  • We value churches living out the two great commandments to love God and love their neighbors.
  • We value building Christ-like relationships.
  • We value the connectedness of the Love INC movement.
  • We model excellence.
  • We value continually maturing in our capacity to meet people’s needs.
Prayer

Additionally, Love INC of Greater Hershey places a high value on the following:

Redefining Success

We value the need to redefine what mission success looks like and how it is best measured. We don’t measure success by attendance, buildings, or cash, but by growth in individuals and families, and by developing relationships and resources.

Collaboration

We value collaborating with others to impact the community. It is not our desire to do everything ourselves but to partner with other entities to establish a combined effort in reaching out to our community.

Mercy Over Judgment

We value showing mercy to those who find themselves in difficult situations. We will accept people where they are and we will not use judgment or guilt as false motivational tools.

Understanding Poverty

We value gaining a thorough understanding of the issues of poverty, both situational and generational. It is our desire to empathize with and be an advocate for those who struggle with issues of poverty.

Relational Currency

We believe that relationships are our most effective currency. We believe that social capital is what people need most and measure success as to the extent we create relationships with people in need and community resources.

Community Value

Love INC of Greater Hershey:

  • Unifies the Body of Christ by bringing the local church together and coordinating their vast resources of expertise, talent, time, and product
  • Empowers hundreds of volunteers to use their gifts and talents for legitimate, manageable service opportunities
  • Oversees a central Connection Center to receive, screen, clarify, and resource needs, tracking client history for reference
  • Develops a working knowledge and awareness of existing community resources, identifying service gaps, and pursuing possible solutions
  • Receives, inventories, and resources a variety of donated products of Personal Care Products
  • Provides free services and donated products to assist needy families with both immediate and long-term help
  • Transforms lives by offering life-changing opportunities through accountable incentive-based long-term programs that move people from need to self-sufficiency
  • Promotes good stewardship, with a $10 return on every $1 invested in the ministry
  • Offers unique value as a coordinating hub for churches, organizations, agencies, businesses and other groups to effectively provide poverty alleviation efforts for our neighbors in need.

Statement of Faith

  • We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
  • We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  • We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life and His atoning death.
  • We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
  • We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Helping Hands

FAQs

Does Love INC provide direct financial support?
Rather than provide direct financial support, Love INC seeks to build relationships with our neighbors in need, typically referred to us by local churches, surrounding school districts, and the Hershey Medical Center. By offering supplemental support such as transportation to a doctor’s appointment, a hot meal, visitation, or yard care, many of Love INC’s clients start to feel cared for, valued, and connected.

 

What is Love INC of Greater Hershey's service area?
Love INC serves anyone who lives or worships in the 17033, 17036 and Dauphin County portion of the 17022 zip codes. We hope to expand this service area in the near future as we develop partnering relationships with churches from neighboring zip codes.
How does a church partner with Love INC to serve people in need?

Love INC provides services to churches to enhance, organize and coordinate local outreach efforts. We are happy to speak with any Christ-focused congregation about partnering to reach people in need. Please call the Office at 717-835-0101 for further information.

How does someone volunteer with Love INC?

Get more information about volunteering, including accessing the online volunteer application HERE.  After receiving your application, a Love INC staff member will contact you to discuss your interests and volunteer opportunities.

How is Love INC of Greater Hershey funded?
Love INC is a 501c(3) non-profit organization whose sole funding is dependent on generous individual and business donors, churches, private foundations and special event fundraisers.
Does Love INC of Greater Hershey provide financial assistance to financially distressed people/families?
Love INC does not provide direct financial assistance. We seek to help distressed families in other ways, particularly those that help to alleviate financial burden and restore their individual value, through volunteers and referrals to agencies, some of which may provide financial assistance.

Partner Churches

(click on a church to be directed to their website)

Additional Agencies

  • Area Agency on Aging
  • Bethesda Mission
  • Brethren Housing Association
  • Catholic Charities
  • Center for Independent Living
  • Central PA Food Bank
  • Cocoa Packs 
  • Community Action Commission
  • Dauphin County Assistance Office
  • Dauphin County Crisis Hotline
  • Dauphin County Housing Authority
  • Derry Township
  • Derry Township School District
  • Elder Express
  • Hershey Free Church Compassion Ministries, Food and Clothing Banks
  • Family Promise
  • Friends Who Furnish
  • Giving Tree of Hummelstown and Hershey
  • Healthy Steps Diaper Bank
  • Help Ministries
  • Hershey Food Bank
  • Hope Within
  • Hummelstown Borough
  • Hummelstown Food Pantry
  • Lower Dauphin Communities that Care
  • Lower Dauphin School District
  • Morningstar Pregnancy Services
  • New Digs Ministries
  • People Mover
  • PPL On-track Program
  • Recycle Bicycle
  • Salvation Army
  • Shepherd’s Closet Clothing Bank
  • Someone To Tell It To
  • Suits to Careers

Supporting Foundations

  • The Anne M & Philip H. Glatfelter III Family Foundation
  • The Fasnacht Family Foundation
  • The GabrIndia Franklin Foundation
  • The Greater Harrisburg Foundation
  • Vanguard Charitable: Anonymous Donor

Love Stories

By working collaboratively with local churches, social service agencies, health care providers, and schools, Love INC of Greater Hershey is making a difference in the lives of whom we serve. Below are examples of how Love INC of Greater Hershey’s caring support has helped.

Gentleman sleeping at hospital for three weeks

Stan’s wife had surgery. Wishing to be near her and unable to afford a lengthy hospital stay, he slept in the hospital for three weeks. Then he was referred to The Parsonage, a ministry of Love INC. He was grateful for the room and the prayers and support of the Love INC volunteers.

Her husband was in the hospital and she needed her lawn mowed

Betty was spending her days beside her husband’s hospital bed. The yard work he always took care was being left undone. A quick call to Love INC and volunteers from a local church responded. Betty’s lawn has been mowed, freeing her up to concentrate on more pressing matters.

Love INC provides transportation to work

After a vehicle accident left Connie without a car, she feared she would loose her job and her medical insurance coverage. Then she called Love INC. Caring Love INC volunteers have been helping her through the transition, providing her weekly transportation to work, to the grocery store, and to church on Sunday.

When their car breaks down, donated bicycles become their transportation

When their car broke down, they thought their job options were over. Now with two donated Love INC bicycles, they have transportation to future jobs.

Small world connection

A guest from Texas was admiring the unique tile work in The Parsonage’s upstairs’ bathroom. The tile workers from the Hershey Estates, who built The Parsonage, were known for their excellent and distinctive workmanship. More specifically, her dad was one of two tile workers for the Hershey Estates, and the bathroom tile looked like his “signature” work. Indeed, she was staying in a home her dad help build.

Woman feels supported and accepted

Volunteers have been helping an out-of-state family settle into their new apartment. New to the area and with reduced circumstances, the mom felt disconnected from others and was afraid she would be judge harshly. Warm and generous Love INC volunteers have included her in their weekly bible study. Recently, the woman reported feeling accepted and supported.

Volunteers committed to health care appointments

Before her doctor would schedule a necessary procedure, Dorothy needed to confirm she had transportation for three weekly appointments. Love INC was able to schedule and confirm volunteer drivers for her appointments. As a result Dorothy had timely, reliable transportation to facilitate her access to her health care provider.

When a prayer can sustain you

In December, the Clearinghouse Coordinator spoke briefly with and prayed for a woman who was investigating Love INC’s services. Today, the lady called back in need of a ride to the bank and the grocery store. She related how the prayer nearly four months ago had sustained her and asked the Clearinghouse Coordinator to pray for her again.

First time volunteer goes the extra mile

When a gentleman needed a ride to the medical center for a series of doctors’ appointments, a first time volunteer offered to drive him, wait for him during his extensive appointments and drive him home. Just as the client was getting out of the car, his physician called to say he had a fracture in his foot. Instead of driving away, this first time volunteer cheerfully drove the client back to the Medical Center, waited for him, and drove him home again literally, going the extra mile for Christ.

Filling the gap

A home-bound client has been receiving assistance from Love INC volunteers for over six months. Volunteers have been providing rides to medical appointments and help with grocery shopping and banking. This client does not qualify for any shuttle service until this fall when she will qualify for CAT transportation so Love INC has been filling the “gap” in the meantime. Love INC also facilitated home health-care for her.

Volunteer does guest’s laundry

A Parsonage guest was delaying taking her dirty laundry to the laundry mat because her knee was giving her some trouble. While she was visiting her husband, who was awaiting a transplant at the hospital, an understanding volunteer house manager washed her laundry. You can imagine the guest’s surprise and delight finding her freshly laundered clothing folded neatly on her bed. Love INC volunteers go the extra distance to treat The Parsonage guests like family.

A home away from home while man keeps a vigil for his wife

Robert, a private man, had been sleeping in his car, so that he could be near his wife at the Hershey Medical Center. A hospital care coordinator suggested he call The Parsonage. The Parsonage was able to provide Robert with a room, a “real” shower, and a light breakfast at no charge. The Parsonage volunteers feel blessed they were able to make Robert’s stay more comfortable.

Family support, so parent can go to work

When an out-of-town dad was torn between being with his young son at the hospital or going to his job, the pediatric care coordinator from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center called Love INC to ask if volunteers would keep this boy company during the day while his father went to work. Love INC responded with 10 volunteers from 4 different churches to visit this little boy over a three day period. The father, a single dad raising 3 children, had peace of mind knowing loving volunteers were reading, visiting, and comforting his son while he went to his job.

A ride to the community health center and a whole lot more

When Jan needed to see a doctor, but didn’t have transportation to the local, free community health center, the staff at Hope Within Ministries in Elizabethtown suggested she give Love INC a call. A volunteer driver was able to take her to her doctor’s appointment. Over the last two years, Love INC has built a trusting relationship with Jan and has been able to provide her with many rides to follow-up doctor’s appointments and imaging centers for diagnostic tests, and monthly rides to a local food bank and clothing bank.