The Factory Ministries will hold its annual open house event on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m., serving as the kickoff to the Extra Give, which will be held on the day after.

Held at the Factory, 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, the event will feature tours of the facility; food; a silent auction; stories of transformation; and a presentation from Adam Nagle, the executive director of the Factory Ministries, and Brandon Fisher, lead pastor of Keystone Church.

"It's a way for people to come in and see our building, really see the place where all the work is happening," said Ellie Green, communications director for the Factory. "The theme for this year is to come and feel, and our guests are encouraged to come and feel what it's like to walk through the doors of the Factory as someone who's battling the impacts of poverty and finds empowerment and hope."

Green explained that the tour is not intended to be a poverty simulation but rather is an opportunity for attendees to experience elements of what those who benefit from the Factory feel when they are empowered through the ministry's programming.

"People will be able to walk through the building, and there's going to be storyboards (on which) people will be able to see our participants sharing specific elements of their story," Green explained.

The silent auction will be held in the facility's gymnasium from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. and will feature items such as themed baskets, trinkets and tickets or gift cards to local experiences and restaurants.

Following the conclusion of the silent auction, Nagle and Fisher will deliver their remarks, which will be centered around what the Factory does for its participants. Tickets to the event are free and can be obtained on the Factory's website, http://www.thefactoryministries.com.

Tickets are not required but are strongly encouraged for planning purposes.

During the silent auction, hors d'oeuvres and finger food snacks provided by Stoltzfus Meats will be served.

The next day, on Friday, Nov. 20, the Extra Give will be held online for the Factory and countless nonprofit organizations all over Lancaster County and the surrounding areas.

"For one extraordinary day each year, Lancaster County comes together to celebrate generosity and support hundreds of community benefit organizations serving our region," according to the Extra Give's website, http://www.extragive.org. "Since 2012, 40,000 donors have raised more than $120 million for over 500 organizations."

For the Factory specifically, Green explained that local sponsors have signed up for hourlong slots to match donations from the community on the day of the Extra Give.

"People will have opportunities to give (at the open house) if they'd like," she said. "The Extra Give is the following day, and we'll have a lot of sponsors for each of the hours throughout the Extra Give. ... Anyone who gives that day will have their gift matched by sponsors; people will be able to see on our Instagram (page) which business is sponsoring for specific hours."

The Factory can be found at @thefactoryministries on Instagram and "The Factory Ministries" on Facebook. Founded in 2006, the Factory Ministries serves more than 3,000 annually through its services and programs, which are geared toward addressing poverty and empowering those who are affected by it in eastern Lancaster County and the surrounding areas.