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Serving the homeless and
near-homeless since 1975. |
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CROSS Ministries is a
social outreach program of Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church
with support from the Presbytery of Des Moines, the faith community,
organizations, fundraisers, grants, and caring individuals.
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Thankful for God's goodness
and following Christ's calling to help one another, saying, "when you have
done it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me," CG Church
provides a ministry to meet the emergency survival needs of the homeless. |
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More than thirty years after it was
started, CROSS Ministries continues to serve low- and no-income
families. Last year CROSS helped:
 | more than 1,100 individuals with emergency financial help to pay
for rent or rent deposits, mortgage payments, and utility bills. |
| more than 1,500 individuals with laundry vouchers,
personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, bus tokens, birth
certificates, storage costs to families in transition, and hats,
mittens, and scarves. |
| 787 school children with a backpack filled with the
grade-appropriate school supplies necessary to begin their school
year. |
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| Still, the need is growing.
The 2005 Iowa Statewide Homeless Study reported that 21,000 people were
homeless in Iowa during 2005, with more than 6,000 in Polk County.
That figure does NOT include people who were staying with friends or
relatives. With a need this great, it is not unusual for families to
line up outside CROSS Ministries' doors several hours before the scheduled
opening as they desperately seek help with basic survival needs. |
| Donations are always welcome.
Checks can be sent to CROSS Ministries at 1050 - 24th St., Des Moines,
Iowa 50311. Personal pantry supplies can be brought to the church
during office hours. It is best to call ahead so we are expecting
you. |
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 Roberta
J. Victor, Ph.D., ATR-BC, was hired as the Director
of CROSS Ministries in August of 2005. Dr. Victor works toward systemic change
through advocacy and community leadership in organizations including:
Polk County Housing Continuum
Mercy Franklin Mental Health Work Group
Iowa Crisis Response Team
Healthy Polk 2010
Friends of Iowa Women Prisoners
Dr. Victor is available for presentations on CROSS
Ministries, as well as for pulpit supply. |
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Goals |
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Funding |
| To provide direct advocacy and assistance to people in need.
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| To advocate for changing social, economic, and political
systems which perpetuate poverty and oppression.
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| To create a vision of justice and educate the church,
organizations, and the community concerning the plight of the poor
and possible ways in which their needs could be addressed.
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| Donations from Cottage Grove Church
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| Donations from the Presbytery of Des Moines, other churches,
and from caring individuals
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| Fundraisers, such as the Antique Critique, the Homeless Blues
Concert, and the Silent Art Auction
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| Grants (HUD, Prairie Meadows, and Polk County Board of
Supervisors) |
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The CROSS office is open for assistance half days (either
morning or afternoon) from Tuesday through Friday. Call the CROSS
recording at 279-9998 to find out when the office will next be open for
assistance.
All applicants should bring any paperwork showing income and expenses for
the past 30 days.
Those requesting
rental assistance need to bring their paperwork from General
Assistance (at
19th and Carpenter) or
Veterans Affairs and a statement from the landlord, showing what is
owed at this time.
(Those needing a rent deposit do not need to go to General
Assistance.)
Those requesting
utility assistance (gas or water) need to bring their paperwork from
General
Assistance or Veterans
Affairs and a 12-month printout from the utility company showing their
payment history.
People are seen on a first come, first served basis.
However, persons with CROSS commitment letters who are present when the
doors are opened will be given priority in the sign-in process. (A
commitment letter is given as a promise of funds when the rest of the
balance needed has been secured.) We do not make appointments.
Assistance is restricted to individuals living in the Greater Des
Moines area.
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Each year, CROSS Ministries sponsors
a Back-to-School Giveaway for children of no- and low-income
families. In 2007 we were able to give supplies to 787 children. This
year the giveaway will be held on Thursday, August 7, from 4:30 - 8:30
p.m., and Friday, August 8, from 10:00 a.m. until noon, or until supplies
are gone.
The Giveaway is for students in Head Start through twelfth grade.
Family income must be at or below 150% of the poverty level. Bring
IDs for all members of the family. If supplies have already been
received from other programs, the family will be ineligible. |
Items that are
needed: new backpacks, notebook paper, wireless
spirals, three-ring
notebooks, crayons,
pencil cases and boxes, scissors, glue, pocket folders, pens (black,
blue,
and red), colored
pencils, markers, Kleenex,
deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
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The CROSS Committee is made up of members from
Presbyterian churches all over Des Moines. Currently there are
15 members on the committee, representing the following Presbyterian
churches: |
Central
Cottage Grove |
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Knox
Union Park |
| Covenant |
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Westminster |
Heartland
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Windsor
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Families waiting in line for
the Back-to-School Giveaway |
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