CROS News

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. 

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. 

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.

Thank you to the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce and its members for honoring CROS Ministries with the Nonprofit of the Year Award at its We Are Delray event. We were proud to be finalists alongside our amazing fellow finalists, EJS Project and Wayside House, Inc.

Thank you to Publix Supermarket Charities for their support of our Community Food Pantry Program. Their continued investment enables us to provide nutritious food to individuals and families facing food insecurity, like Frank. Frank, a skilled roofer with more than 22 years of experience, unexpectedly found himself in need after being laid off due to the housing market slowdown. Thanks to Publix Supermarket Charities, we were able to offer him and his family food assistance during this challenging period. Their commitment to our pantry program creates a meaningful impact on the lives of people navigating unforeseen hardships.

 Thank you to Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and your donors for investing in CROS Ministries and helping us to serve the hungry in Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Thanks to you we can help someone like Thomas and his family. Recently, Thomas’ car broke down in the Wellington Community Center’s parking lot. When he came back the next morning to wait for a tow truck, he saw that our Mobile Food Pantry was there and walked over to see if he could receive some food for him and his family. The bag of food was an unexpected blessing having to now pay for the tow truck and to get his car fixed.

Twelve years ago, Larry joined our pantries’ warehouse volunteer team, picking up boxes of food from numerous storage units in Lake Worth and delivering the food to our pantries often in their own vehicles. He says he has made life-long friends through volunteering with CROS, and the group regularly go to breakfast or lunch together when they finish helping to unload the food from our warehouse truck at the pantries. He is proud to be a part of CROS Ministries and helping to serve people in need. In 2018, we honored Larry by nominating him for the Area Agency on Aging Palm Beach/Treasure Coast Prime Time Awards, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of senior volunteers in our community. Thank you, Larry! If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with CROS, please see below for our latest volunteer opportunities or contact Rev. Juanita Bryant Goode at [email protected].

 Joe joined the CROS Board of Directors in 2010 and served through 2019 before rotating off and joining the Board again in 2022. He connected with CROS through the Society of St. Andrew’s Gleaning Network, whom he had worked with in Virginia before moving to Florida. Joe said, “As a farmer, my God given talents revolve around food production and feeding people.” He has used these talents to help CROS grow our own gleaning program while also providing a strategic and well-rounded perspective on our Board. When asked why he continues to volunteer with CROS he said, “It's simple… because of good people, good cause, and tremendous need!!!” We greatly appreciate Joe sharing his limited time with us between farming and also volunteering in different capacities at his church. Thank you, Joe for your time, talents, and expertise helping CROS Ministries to serve the hungry in our community!

Janet has volunteered with CROS in various capacities for many years and has served as the CROS Liaison for her church, First Congregational Church of Lake Worth since 2015. She enjoys volunteering at our pantries, participating in our gleaning events, helping to sort and bag food at our warehouse, and walking in support of our annual Hustle to End Hunger 5K Walk/Run event in October. Organizing food drives for CROS at her church which involves the entire congregation, she says, is also very rewarding (and fun) for her, as well. “The mission of CROS to serve the hungry resonates with me,” says Janet. “CROS is well organized and has well planned service opportunities makes volunteering so easy. The staff is sincere, welcoming, and appreciative which makes volunteering a pleasure.” Thank you, Janet, for choosing CROS to share your big heart and generous spirit as well as being a great CROS Liaison, connecting your church to the many activities and volunteer opportunities at CROS.