Standing in the Gap

Our Mission

CROS Ministries provides food for the hungry and the food insecure in collaboration with our partners in the community.

Ensuring Access to Healthy Food for All in Need

Two volunteers preparing bags of food to distribute at the CROS Delray Beach Food Pantry.

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FOOD PANTRIES

Volunteers in the field holding lettuce.

Recovering Fresh Produce From Local Farms, Cull-Lines, and SWA’s Mango Grove

GLEANING

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CARING KITCHEN

A Message from Ruth

Dear Friends,

At a recent community breakfast, a woman approached me and introduced herself. With tears in her eyes, she thanked me, explaining that just days before, she had learned her sister, Rose, had received food from one of our CROS food pantries. As she shared Rose’s story, and how a health challenge had cost her job, forcing her to move in with their parents, we both became emotional. In that moment, I was reminded that behind every meal and bag of food we provide, is

a person, a family and a story of resilience.

Volunteer handing out bags at a CROS food pantry.

Volunteers in the fields recovering fresh produce.

Volunteers preparing meals for distribution.

You man holding up snack packs for distribution.

CROS News

Ken Treadwell, new Board President

By Gibbie Nauman • February 5, 2025

At our January 27th Annual Board Meeting, Ken Treadwell, a retired attorney, was elected as CROS Ministries’ new Board President, succeeding Dr. John Conde, who served in the role since 2020. Ken’s journey with CROS Ministries began in 2005 through his involvement with St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington. After retiring in 2012, he was recruited by a fellow church member to assist with our food pantry storage operations, eventually stepping in to become the lead volunteer. At that time, our warehouse volunteers restocked our seven food pantries weekly, sometimes even twice a week, often using their own vehicles. His leadership was instrumental in helping us streamline our operations, which eventually allowed us to consolidate into two warehouse units, purchase trucks, and hire a warehouse manager along with additional staff. Ken joined our Board of Directors in 2018 and became Vice President in 2020, all while continuing to support warehouse deliveries to our pantries. If you see Ken, please congratulate him on his new role as we look forward to his continued leadership and dedication to our mission.

Souper Bowl of Caring

By Gibbie Nauman • January 8, 2025

Let's Think Beyond the Bowl! 1 donation, 1 food drive at a time Help CROS Tackle Hunger by making a donation or holding a food drive for CROS in honor of the Big Game. For more information about Souper Bowl of Caring or holding a food drive, contact Emily at [email protected] or 561-233-9009 x102.

Great Charity Challenge 10K Grant!

By Gibbie Nauman • December 20, 2024

We are excited to share that we were randomly selected to receive a $10,000 grant from the Great Charity Challenge! This funding will support our efforts to provide consistent, reliable access to nutritious food for individuals and families facing hunger and food insecurity across Palm Beach County.

My family and I would like to thank you for all your love and support during our hard time of having my dad out of work. Thank you for the backpacks of food, extra snacks, and for celebrating my Birthday with me this summer at Camp. It meant a lot.

Dana Rosen
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Suzie is a grandmother of eight. She is disabled and takes care of her eight grandchildren every afternoon, on holidays, and during the summer. This requires her to keep extra food at her home. “Taking care of my grandchildren is important to me. Coming to the food pantry makes it so that I can keep looking after them. If I didn’t come to the pantry I would not be able to feed myself, let alone my grandkids.

John Taylor
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Clarissa sought help from a CROS Food Pantry after her wallet and all the cash she had for the month was stolen. She takes care of her husband, Joe, who is bedridden, and has her two daughters. Both daughters are students at local colleges and still live at home. Clarissa is overjoyed by the amount of food she received from the pantry. “I know that I may not always need the pantry, but I am grateful it was there for my family and me during this time of crisis.

Rina Brick
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Richard, a local chef, was recently in an accident that caused a brain injury. He can no longer work to provide for his family and is now on disability. He lives with his wife; two children, both college students; and his widowed mother. Richard is grateful for the CROS Community Food Pantry to help feed his family during this time of need.

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As a foster parent of five children, Lucy felt it was a huge blessing for her oldest foster child to take part in CROS Ministries’ camp program. Her daughter enjoyed her summer and will always remember the experiences she shared with other campers.

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Sam never anticipated his retirement years would end up like this. His social security income barely covers his daily needs, and he does not qualify for government assistance. He never thought he would have to rely on a food pantry to get him through, but he does. He is thankful for the Lake Worth Food Pantry and the food and referrals the volunteers have shared with him.

Jose recently lost his job. He is actively looking for work. He is grateful for the food he gets from a CROS food pantry while he looks for a new job. Thanks to the food he receives, he does not have to worry about going to interviews hungry.

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Beth and her husband are both veterans. Her husband struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and has made several attempts on his life. Beth struggles to maintain a job, because she must take care of her husband. She is grateful to our pantry volunteers who treat her with dignity and respect, allowing her to let go of the shame she feels about asking for help.

Dawn is a mother of five who visited our food pantry in Belle Glade. When the staff person noted that Dawn had not been to the pantry in a year, Dawn explained that her family goes up north in the summer to work and upon their return they have to wait a couple of weeks before work starts up again here. Once they start working again, they do not need the pantry’s help. However, finances are very tight during the weeks they are out of work. The pantry, she said, has been a life saver to her family. She was so thankful for our pantry.

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In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights - 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or email: [email protected]. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Standing in the Gap

Impact

Financials

Employment

Volunteer

Our Mission

Ensuring Access to Healthy Food for All in Need

A Message from Ruth

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