Mission Committee

MISSION ACTIVITIES

 

Crossroads Food Pantry Donations

 
 

Cottonwood Presbyterian Church has been supporting the work of Crossroads Urban Center by its gifts of time, money, outreach, clothing and food for over 30 years. Crossroads was established in 1966 as a non-profit, grassroots organization serving low income, disabled and minority Utahns to meet basic survival needs. Among the many services they provide is an emergency food pantry at 347 South 400 East in Salt Lake City, where people in need can receive a free bag of groceries and other essentials. Economic conditions being what they are these days, record numbers of people are coming to the Crossroads Food Pantry for help to feed their families. It is the busiest food pantry in Utah.

 

As Christians, we are called to serve people in need. Thankfully, most of us are not confronted personally with basic survival needs, as the staff and volunteers at Crossroads see all day, every day. But members of our congregation do help indirectly by bringing food and sundry items to church on Sunday and leaving them in the narthex. These donations are gathered up each week and delivered to the Crossroads Food Pantry. We also have a major food drive once or twice a year to restock their shelves when shortages develop. Every item we donate winds up in the hands of a needy person or family within a short period of time.

 

Many of our members have a longstanding habit of bringing something with them to church every Sunday. Others pitch in during the major food drives. Some do both. Please think about establishing a new, good habit this year by bringing a food item to church on Sunday. Your Mission Committee is also seeking volunteers to make our weekly deliveries to Crossroads. Contact Jack Van Klaveren if you can help.

 

The Homeless Youth Outreach Center is on State Street in downtown Salt Lake City and it is run by the Volunteers of America. Teenagers who don’t have a home can drop in during the day to warm up and get some help. They can take a shower, wash their clothes, have something to eat and get some supplies. They can also get counseling and take classes so they can get a high school diploma or find a job. The doors close at 6:00 so they are on their own at night. They find shelter in abandoned houses or empty lots, behind dumpsters or all kinds of places where none of us would want to sleep. Some people call them “throwaway kids” because their parents either abused them or refused to take care of them.

 

For anyone interested, there are also opportunities for volunteer help at the Center. People are needed to prepare meals, clean rooms, store supplies, sort clothing, etc. This frees up the staff to spend more time helping the kids. Anyone with a special talent can do workshops to teach the kids about anything from getting/holding a job to doing crossword puzzles or basic first aid. What a great way to share Christian love and keep some youngster out of trouble! Contact someone on the Mission Committee and we will put you in touch with the right people.