Standing in the Gap

Our Administrative Office, Food Pantries, and Caring Kitchen program will be closed on Thursday, July 31st for a staff retreat. We will reopen at our regular locations on Friday, August 1st.

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:

Right now, families across our community are facing growing hardship. I recently joined Congresswoman Lois Frankel and other local leaders to speak out against proposed cuts to the SNAP (food stamp) and Medicaid programs, cuts that would severely impact the very people we serve.

Our annual Summer Match Challenge is underway, and your support is more powerful than ever. Thanks to generous friends, every gift you give will be matched dollar for dollar up to $30,000 until September 1, 2025. That means twice the meals, twice the relief, and twice the hope for our neighbors in need.

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.

After my daughter passed away two years ago, I took in my three young grandchildren, now 11, 8, and 4. I’m 89 years old, retired, and living on a fixed income, but I’m determined to keep them together. The truth is, it’s hard to make ends meet. The cost of rent, school supplies, clothes, food, and daily essentials is overwhelming. I’m so grateful for CROS Ministries’ food pantry. The groceries I receive help stretch my budget and make sure my grandbabies don’t go to bed hungry.

Dana Rosen
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I was recently released from prison after serving 18 months. When I found myself in Delray Beach last week, I remember receiving hot meals outside the library through the Caring Kitchen program. I asked around and found their new meal site was close-by. I could not believe that the staff remembered me. They instantly welcomed me by name and a hug. It felt like I had returned home. Thank you to the Caring Kitchen for opening its doors and hearts to anyone who is hungry.

John Taylor
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On Valentine’s Day, our gleaning crew were joined by three volunteers from the Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization and 13 students from Lake Worth Christian School. In just under an hour, they filled two bins, totaling 1,260 lbs. of green peppers, while also learning about Down Syndrome and making new friends!

Rina Brick
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I am 78 years old struggling with medical issues including a recent battle with cancer. I had been receiving SNAP benefits but was unaware that I needed to reapply. It came as a shock when they were discontinued. I have reapplied but I am told there is a waiting period to be reinstated. I have been surviving on just crackers and water. Learning about the CROS Food Pantry near my home and can receive a bag of food is an incredible relief.

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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.

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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.

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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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