"America is the richest country in the world.  And yet tonight, thousands of your neighbors will go to bed hungry.  It may be your child's schoolmate who is undernourished and has difficulty learning on an empty stomach.  Or it could be a co-worker, a working mother whose low-wage job doesn't make ends meet.  Perhaps it's an elderly neighbor who has to make a decision whether to delay filling a prescription or buying groceries.  The faces of hunger are as broad as the faces of America."                             
David Jasby, General Mills
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What We're About ...
An important message from former C.R.O.S.S. Center Board Chair, Pastor Al Jergenson -

This web site seeks to introduce you to the work and ministry of the C.R.O.S.S. Center in Benton County. It is our hope to acquaint you with the reasons for its existence, the resources it provides and the opportunities YOU are afforded to make a loving and significant difference in the lives of many of your neighbors who find themselves in a time of real crisis or need.
Through a dedication to ongoing education, commitment, partnership and resourcing, the C.R.O.S.S. Center seeks to develop a growing awareness of the basic needs around us for food and clothing; to generate a passion to address those needs with compassion, love and care; to foster a willingness to partner together to accomplish much more than would otherwise be possible; and to challenge one another to each do our part to provide the best resources possible, to serve those in need through volunteers who truly care, and to support clients with what it takes to meet their real emergency needs.
Whether you find yourself in the role of donor, volunteer or recipient - the ministry of the C.R.O.S.S. Center seeks to address real needs with compassion, integrity and a loving response. To that end, I hope you will join with us and play your part in making a real difference in the lives of those in need!
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Please check the other pages of our web site to learn more about us, to see how you can help with our mission, or to discover what kind of help may be available to you.
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Something to remember ...

If you are looking for an opportunity to help those in need and have a little extra time to  help us with our mission, please contact C.R.O.S.S. to find out how you can be a volunteer.  Use the contact info on the left hand side of this page to find out more.
Thank you!  (posted 1-15-09)
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Coborn's Thanksgiving "Ham Card" promotion is going on now.
If you would like to donate your filled or partially filled Ham Cards to the C.R.O.S.S. Center, it is an excellent way of making a donation to our food shelf.  These cards are then turned in to Coborn's for the amount of Ham that would have been given out. So, even if you weren't thinking of making use of this Ham Card for yourself, please think about starting one anyway and donating it to the C.R.O.S.S. Center.
It will make a world of difference to those in need.
We would like to thank Coborn's for making this program possible.
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All over the state of Minnesota, food shelf use is on the rise.
The CROSS Center served 117 families in the month of December 2008.  November and October was 100,  September was 99, August was 84. For the year, 2008, CROSS gave out to needing families in Benton County 94,644 pounds of food.

Food shelves are becoming a very vital part of our communities now with hard times eminent in so many lives. All the lay offs and cut backs are taking a toll on families, they are hurting. No longer are we making decisions about dance lessons or vacation plans. We are wondering how we are going to live with no electricity in the house and having enough food to keep every body healthy. The need for help/support is very great.

There is good support in this community. CROSS is very grateful.  Families who received Christmas gifts from sponsors have asked how they can extend a thank you.  Along with the toy donations, the gifts received have given many families a wonderful holiday, thanks for many generous people. The giving trees served 65 families and 114 children got toys at the toy distribution. It not only took many wonderful donations but also many people who worked hard to make these programs a success. Thank you to all of you.

CROSS also is thankful for the monetary gifts and the Coborns Turkey cards. Don't know how many turkeys we got from the cards, but it was a lot. Every family that came in during December was able to get a turkey if they wanted one. We are still offering turkeys to families. How wonderful is that??  Thank you, Thank you!

A fund raising effort has been started for the CROSS Center at the Apple Cart.
Two ways to get involved. One is to do some shopping at our shelves at the Apple Cart. The other is to donate craft items to CROSS that could be sold. Items must be brought to the CROSS center so they can be ticketed for the Apple Cart.  A new idea that could be fun.
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The March Food Campaign is here!
Now is the time to start organizing a food drive. Check out the March Campaign website: www.gmcc.org/foodshare/marchcampaign 
The website will be helpful to plan and promote your food drive. 

Thank you again and again for the community support. Together we can make a difference in the lives of our neighbor.

CROSS is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) so donations to CROSS are tax deductible. Call for more information 968-7012 or visit our web site at www.thecrosscenter.com
(posted 1-15-09)
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FACT SHEET – 2007 Information about C.R.O.S.S and
7/2006 – 6/2007 CROSS CENTER FOOD SHELF STATISTICS
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The CROSS Center NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Our food supply is very low and Benton County / Foley families are still hungry.  Many families depend on CROSS to help them feed their children.
We still like to recieve donations of money because we can purchase food at a very low cost.  However, we are running out of some basic food needs before the next truck delivery comes.  CROSS would like to share a list of the most needed foods:

Are you wondering what we do with all that food?  Stop in and see what we do.  If you would like us to speak at your organization, give us a call.  If you can help us find a new place to have our food shelf, let us know.   Without the help from the community we can not help those in need.
Thank you for all you do.(posted 9-27-08)
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C.R.O.S.S. NO LONGER ACCEPTING FURNITURE
The CROSS Center is no longer in the Furniture Business.  The CROSS Board regrets that the CROSS Center will no longer be accepting furniture donations.  Please DO NOT leave any furniture, beds or appliances by the CROSS building.  There is no room inside for furniture.  Anything outside will have to stay out in the weather and then be set out for garbage pickup.  The required extra garbage fees will cost CROSS money that should be used for buying food.
However there is another option!
Notices of items to be given away can be posted, with phone number, on the bulletin board at CROSS.  Bring notices in during open hours or mail them to us.  (PO Box 205)  Call CROSS for more information. (968-7012)

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CHECK OUR SERVICES PAGE FOR INFORMATION ON VARIOUS PROGRAMS THE C.R.O.S.S. CENTER HAS RUNNING AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.

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Stretch your donation dollar  This graphic will show how you can make your donation to the C.R.O.S.S. Center stretch even farther.  This is a .pdf file, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view it.  A free copy of the Reader can be obtained by clicking here.

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EMAIL US at crosscenter@hotmail.com

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Address:
Cross Center
150 Fourth Ave.
P.O. Box 205
Foley, MN  56329
 
Telephone:
(320) 968-7012

Hours of Operation:
Mondays from
1:00 - 4:00 pm,
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Thursdays
from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Closed on holidays.
Foley Area C.A.R.E.
(Creating Appreciation and Reciprocity with Elders)
This program assists with a variety of needs with a goal of helping our elders live in their own home for as long as possible.  Check their website using the link above for more information.