Please read below for an important update on the Warehouse Expansion Project from CrossNet Executive Director, Meredith Dahl.

Dear Supporters, 

I am excited to share an update with you regarding CrossNet Ministries’ (CrossNet’s) expansion and renovation project! 

As many of you know, in 2022 CrossNet shared a need regarding the necessity for more space for programs. We have been growing over the past six years and have outgrown our current facilities. We shared with you that we had the opportunity to purchase a large warehouse on Franklin Street, across the street from our current office and Food Pantry. The warehouse purchase cost $1.5 million, and we received an estimate of $1.5 million to renovate the space. This brought us to a $3 million project goal. We shared the need with a partner, and we were generously offered a $1.5 million matching grant if we could raise the other $1.5 million in nine months! At the end of 2022, through the generosity of the community, we had raised the $1.5 million and were able to receive the matching grant from the Clark Associates Charitable Foundation. In January 2023, we purchased the warehouse debt free! Praise God! 

From January 2023 through March 2024, we have worked diligently with TONO Group in Lancaster on the design and architecture for the project. In March 2024, the architectural plans were submitted to the New Holland Borough, and we opened a bidding process for the project. We are grateful to share that building permits have been approved, and we are ready to begin the renovations! A big thank you to the New Holland Borough and TONO Group for their work. 

Unfortunately, once we received the final bid for the project, we were faced with construction costs that were substantially higher than originally budgeted due to post pandemic cost inflation and some changes to the plan. We spent some additional time “value engineering”, and the final cost is expected to be between $3 million and $3.2 million. We hope to get the cost down to $3 million as we continue to work on value engineering on different aspects of the project. 

Some good news! We currently have $2.2 million for the project. As we look ahead, we anticipate needing an additional $800,000 to complete the project debt free. 

The CrossNet Board of Directors has unanimously decided to begin the renovation work. Due to this decision, CrossNet will start renovations this month. The project should take approximately nine months to complete. Pending an appraisal, we will have a bridge loan available if needed, however, our desire is to have NO debt. Therefore, we are seeking to raise the last $800,000 over the next nine months. 

We know this is a big task, but our eyes are FIXED on the mission of offering help and hope in the name of Jesus! 

The project renovations will include: 

• Office Space – to bring resources into the community including counseling 
• Food Storage Space – the ability to take additional donations and a place to set-up a full shopping experience 
• Space to Sort and Accept Donations 
• Space to Meet with Participants 
• Youth Center Space for Programming to Meet Needs of Students of All Ages 
• Office Space for Staff 
• Repurposing our Office and Food Pantry for Space for Crisis Housing and Additional Housing Programs 

CrossNet is seeking to expand because we believe God has more stories of life change ahead. Space won’t solve everything; however, we are not giving up until everyone in our community has the resources and support system they need to be sustainable. We are going to continue to seek to see lives changed by Jesus and to offer help and hope in the form of food, relationships, housing, and resources. 

We hope this update is encouraging to you as we seek to use our resources well, continue to move forward, trust God, and know that once the project is complete, it will be a blessing to ELANCO for years to come! 

We know some of you have already contributed to this project. However, we are appealing to our community, donors, and supporters for this last leg of the project! Would you prayerfully consider helping us reach our goal of raising $800,000 for renovation costs? You can use the response card or click on the link below. Please let us know if you would like your contribution to be anonymous, as we are planning to have a Donor Thank You Wall in the new space.

Thank you for your consideration, prayer, and continued support. We are blessed to partner with you. 

Sincerely, 

Meredith Dahl, Executive Director 

A note from the CrossNet Board of Directors: 

On behalf of the Board of Directors, THANK YOU! Our ELANCO community is like no other. 

The final stretch of a major two-year capital campaign is finally before us. Along the way, moments of doubt were offset by faith, and overwhelming challenge was met with miraculous wonder. 

Though inflation and engineering realities have significantly increased initial projections, Meredith and her team have tirelessly sought ways to manage the renovation costs to best serve the needs of our community—without compromise to the mission of CrossNet. Your generosity will take the capital project over the finish line. Your trust and investment into the mission of CrossNet is deeply appreciated. 

Pastor Brian E. Martin 

CrossNet Ministries, Board Chair 

If you would like to continue donating to the Capital Campaign, click here to donate today!