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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.