Moving Our Neighbors From Scarcity Toward Security

When a mother came to Crosslines Food Pantry for the first time, she expected to leave with groceries. What she didn’t expect was to also find diapers for her baby, coats for her children, and even a birthday bag for her daughter, whose birthday was that very day. She left not only with food, but with tears of gratitude — a reminder that dignity and hope are just as essential as bread and milk.

At 79 years old, Great-Grandma B. is raising two great-grandchildren, one in elementary school and one in high school. Like many kinship caregivers, she has faced the challenges of meeting the needs of growing children while living on a limited income. Over the years, she has turned to Crosslines for support through programs such as Wish I May, Holiday Assistance, Coats for Kids and resource referrals. Whether she needed help finding services, winter clothing or assistance celebrating special occasions, she knew where to turn for guidance and encouragement.

After a serious injury and ongoing legal challenges disrupted their lives, a young couple came to Crosslines seeking food assistance. Through case management, they set goals and began addressing the many challenges they faced, including food insecurity, employment concerns, disability applications and mental health needs. Crosslines helped connect the couple with community resources, including SNAP benefits, utility assistance and other support services.

When K.W. came to Crosslines, she was a single mother caring for an infant while working to rebuild her life. After overcoming homelessness, addiction and significant personal challenges, she had committed herself to creating a different future for herself and her daughter. Determined to continue moving forward, K.W. enrolled in a rigorous high school completion program through MERS Goodwill. While balancing the demands of parenting, she successfully earned her diploma and was accepted into CoxHealth’s Phlebotomy Program.

When a young family first came to Crosslines during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were facing housing instability, financial hardship, and the stress of caring for multiple family members with disabilities. After a dispute with a landlord left them struggling to catch up on rent, Crosslines helped connect them with grant funding that allowed them to settle their housing situation and move into a safer home.