Families in Gap and nearby communities won't have to drive miles from home anymore for services many of them use.
Bailey Groff, left, and Mackenzie Long play in the early-learning center at Family Center of Gap.
At the end of a long work day, they will be able to pick up children from after-school programs or day care, or parents from a senior center, and grab a family-style, pre-ordered dinner — all under one roof — at the Family Center of Gap.
They could also head to a family counseling appointment, get a massage, or attend a college class.
The Family Center of Gap will unveil its $4.6 million building, and the family-focused businesses and services that fill it, at a grand opening Friday through Sunday, Sept. 12-14.
The brainchild of Jonas Beiler, of JoAnn Group, the 55,000-square-foot facility is intended to benefit communities along the Lancaster-Chester county line that have not had convenient access to such services.
"After several years of counseling at Family Resource and Counseling Center, all of a sudden I realized that we were just one piece of the puzzle," said Beiler. "With people's busy schedules, running to appointments scattered all over, they don't have much time left to be married, to be a family."
Beiler founded FRCC in 1992. It was among the first tenants to move into the new Family Center.
Beiler says many things compete for a family's time, and long commutes to access services shouldn't be one of them.
"I wondered, 'Why can't we put together a family center where all of these services are in one place?' " Beiler said. "It's good for families and good for the community and I believe we can impact future generations."
Beiler and his wife, Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne's Inc., donated the first $1 million for construction and $500,000 more for site preparations, said executive director Bethany Woodcock.The rest will be paid through tenant leasing, she said.
The Early Learning Center of Gap, operated by Hildebrandt Learning Centers, has been open for several weeks and has the capacity for 89 children, ages 6 weeks through 12 years.
An after-school program that operated at Paradise Elementary School has found a home at the center while the new elementary school is under construction.
Adjacent to the children's playground is the Senior Center's patio and garden; intergenerational activities will be planned.
The hub of this mammoth building is Angela's Café, which houses the new Salisbury Public Library (a branch of the Pequea Valley Library).
In the next few months, the café will offer pre-ordered dinners for pickup, and catering events held in the public meeting rooms or auditorium.
Harrisburg Area Community College will offer courses in two classrooms.
The grand-opening celebration begins with teen activities at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a concert with Brandon Heath and The Bridge Band.
Saturday's events include an air show at 12:30 p.m., visits from Barnstormer mascot Cylo, and Auntie Anne's mascot, Twistee. Focus on the Family President Jim Daly will speak at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday concerts include Sonic Flood at 3 p.m. and Nevertheless at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks will follow.
Gap Community Church, which met at the Gap Fire Company, will have a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday Additional oncerts are planned that afternoon.
For more information, visit www.gapfamilycenter.org or call 442-2300.
Jeannette Scott is a Sunday News staff writer. Contact her at jscott@lnpnews.com or at 291-8689.
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