GAP stands for “God Always Provides.” There are many needs that aren’t being met adequately by local agencies that churches can help with. Churches host a GAP Ministry and recruit a volunteer to serve as a Ministry Leader.

Ministry Leaders recruit and coordinate other church volunteers to keep the GAP ministry items organized, fill voucher orders, deliver items (if needed), and welcome clients when they pick up their items.

Clients access GAP resources by calling the Clearinghouse for a referral. GAP ministries can help families stretch their budget, freeing up resources so they can pay their rent, utilities, or other bills.

Each church can participate in a GAP ministry in any or all of the following ways:

• Host a GAP Ministry at their church (see below for GAP needs not being met by churches)
• Collect change once a month for gasoline cards, oil changes and fresh foods ministries.
• Collect product for another church’s GAP ministry by being a “Church of the Month.” Churches can simply list items needed (we would send you a list) in your church bulletins to participate in several GAPS. Items may include:
  • Bedding & Blankets (sheets, blankets, quilts, pillows)
  • Winter Gear (coats, hats, scarves, gloves, boots and socks)
  • Diapers & Wipes (baby diapers, pull-ups, and containers of wipes)
  • Firewood (donate wood to, or volunteer at one of the churches with a Firewood Lot Gap ministry)
  • Household Items (new or gently used pots & pans, silverware, plates, bowls, cups, storage containers, utensils, dish towels, small appliances, etc.)
  • New or very gently used items for the Gift Closet (clients use a voucher to “shop” for gifts for loved ones birthdays, Christmas, etc.)
  • Paper & Cleaning products (Kleenex, paper towels, cleaning products such as toilet cleaner, windex, mops, brooms, laundry soap, dryer sheets, etc.)
  • Personal Needs items (toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, razors, soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, Q-tips, etc.)

GAP Ministry’s that we are looking for a host church to meet specific needs in the community include:

• Meat Ministry (frozen meat, moose, caribou, fish, etc.)
• Perishable Food Ministry (the church hosting this ministry would collect change to fund $25 grocery vouchers. Rather than stockpiling perishable foods and risking they go bad before a client needs them, a GAP volunteer would purchase items listed on a voucher referral and deliver them to the client.)
• Furniture (beds & dressers, table & chairs, couches, recliners, etc.) Love INC will try to match furniture donations to a client directly to avoid having to move the item twice. However, sometimes donors want to get furniture items out of their house sooner than we can find a client needing it. A church hosting this GAP would allow use of a storage shed to store furniture until the item is matched to a client need. GAP volunteers would pick up and deliver donated items.)
• Haircuts (a church hosting this ministry would provide a place once a month where referred clients can come for a free hair cut. Volunteer stylists from several churches can participate.)
• Bicycle Repair (a local Lions Club used to provide this service and offered all their tools, bike parts, etc to a church willing to take this over from them. Bikes are donated from individuals, found at yard sales, or are unclaimed bikes donated by police depts.)

If you are interested in helping your church start a GAP ministry or need information about existing GAPs to donate product, call 452-3876.