SPRING
2015
CROSCurrents
CROS Ministries serves the hungry in Palm Beach and Martin Counties through community collaborations.
Dear Friends,
Did you know that 40% of those who
received food from our food pantries
in 2014 were children? As I think
about our mission statement, ‘CROS
Ministries serves the hungry in Palm
Beach and Martin Counties through
community collaborations,’ I am
reminded of the children who come
through our doors. This newsletter
highlights the different ways we provide for children.
Whether it is giving out children’s clothing at the Caring
Kitchen, food and juice boxes at a pantry, preparing snacks for
after school programs, packing bags filled with food for the
weekend or even helping groups understand that corn is grown
in the fields and not at the grocery store; the list of how we
meet the needs of our community is endless.
Our nine-week summer day camps are another way we
serve children. Emily Zarzycki, CROS Camp and Children’s
Ministry Director, has an exciting curriculum planned for
elementary and middle school students this summer, complete
with educational activities, field trips, and Bible studies.
Thanks to the summer food service program run by Palm Beach
County, we also provide lunch and snack to all the campers.
Camp season will be here before we know it. My 12-year-old
son is already counting down the days to summer vacation!
Would you consider making a donation to CROS Camps? Your
gifts and those of others will ensure that our campers have a
fun and safe summer experience, and create memories that they
will cherish for years to come.
With Hope for our Children!
Ruth Mageria
Executive Director
Community Food Pantries
Food Pantry volunteers bring
books and small toys for the
children to keep them busy while
their parents complete the pantry
forms. They are allowed to take
these items with them. Some of
the pantries stock small containers
of Juicy Juice for the children too.
A little boy and his mother visited
one of our food pantries recently.
While his mother spoke to a volunteer, the little boy
began to cry. His mother asked him why he was crying.
He said that he was hungry. A CROS staff member
overhearing this exchange brought him some crackers
and a juice box. The little boy stopped crying and
patiently waited for his mother to finish. As she was
leaving, she thanked the volunteer and staff member for
their kindness to her child. She said they had not eaten
anything since the day before.
CROS Ministries • 301 First Avenue South • Lake Worth, FL 33460 • Phone: (561) 233-9009 Fax: (561) 233-9819
Benjamin School students spent the morning of the Martin
Luther King Jr. holiday gleaning in the field with us. The
students were filled with amazing energy and delight. Just
watching them look into the leaves of a pepper plant, spy a large
pepper hidden within, pull it triumphantly from the bed and then
exclaim to everyone, “Look at this one” would bring a smile to
your face.
Gleaning News
For some, this was also the first time they stepped foot on a
farm. The first time they could see that food does not magically
appear in the grocery store, but grown and harvested by farmers.
We love that gleaning helps kids fill in the blanks, see behind
the scenes into where food comes from, and what it takes to get
it into the hands of hungry people.
See you in the fields!
-Keith Cutshall, CROS Gleaning Director
Caring Kitchen
Update!
On the second Monday every month, The
Caring Kitchen holds children’s and teen’s
clothing day. Parents come in at 1:30pm
and work with a volunteer “personal shopper” to receive clothing, shoes, books, and
toys for their children. There is always a
large array of items to choose from thanks
to our boutique volunteers and donations
arriving all month long. The children and
the parents really appreciate this service.
Some parents even donate clothing back to
us when their children grow out of them.
-Caring Kitchen Staff
Giving Campers a
Better Tomorrow!
CROS Camps Goals:
Nutrition: Making sure campers are provided
with breakfast as needed, lunch and snacks
daily.
Education: Helping to reinforce the skills
campers learned during the school year in a
fun yet educational way
Basic Skills: Providing campers with opportunities to make good choices, build confidence
and share with others
What do you think about when it comes to summer time in Florida?
Some may think of going to the beach and sunbathing. Others might
think about going water skiing or to the Rapids Water Park to cool
off. Some think about BBQ’s and family parties. I, however, think
about the many, many young children who are home alone for the
summer fending for themselves. I think about the meals they will not
have. I think about the loss of reading and writing skills they learned
during the school year.
CROS Camps provides a safe environment for campers, so the
things, I think about will not happen. Campers have a safe nurturing
place to call “home” during the day. They receive breakfast, lunch,
and snacks daily. We teach biblical principles and values that they
can share at home. And YES, we have fun! We go on field trips,
work on school readiness for the fall, sing, dance, make arts and
crafts, and so much more. Every day is different, which is one major
reason why I love to get out of bed every morning during camp
season.
Will you help me make a difference in the life of campers this summer? First, join me in praying for our campers and their families,
volunteers, and staff that God will protect and keep us safe daily
through our activities and travel. Secondly, please consider giving
a gift of love financially to off-set the many needs of our program.
Your donation will help “Give our Campers a Better Tomorrow!”
Seeking peace of mind for our campers!
-Emily Zarzycki, CROS Camp and Children’s Ministry Director
Summer Camp Interns Needed!
We are seeking 16 young, talented men and
women ages 19 - 28 to serve as interns for
our Summer Camp Program. Our program
will run from June 8th - August 7th with
a week of training prior to the beginning
of camp. Each intern will receive a $2,200
stipend for their 10 weeks of service. The
intern serves in the role of running camp
activities, attending field trips, leading outdoor games, worship, academics, and crafts.
Giving Campers a Better Tomorrow!
“As I was sitting here watching that beautiful camp video from the summer and seeing my daughter’s picture come up so
many times doing such fun and educational stuff it warmed my heart. CROS gave my daughter a summer that I could not
give her because I am single mom working two jobs to provide for us. She came home from camp daily so excited and full
of joy!!! It warmed my heart to see her smile as big as the ocean while she told me of all the things she did. I really want
to thank you all for all the hope and love you put in their lives!” - CROS Camps Parent
In 2014, CROS Ministries provided
hope through these ministries:
Ministry to Eliminate Hunger
• Community Food Pantries distributed food to 63,166 individuals, 40% of
people served were children.
• The Caring Kitchen provided 85,865meals.
• Nutrition in a Knapsack provided weekend bags of food to 225 students (20142015 school year).
• The After School Snack Program provided 39,700 snacks to children in Delray
Beach and West Palm Beach.
• Cason UMC distributed 15,407 brown bag weekend lunches.
• The Gleaning program harvested 377,535 lbs. of fresh produce and distributed
the produce into the community (2013-2014 gleaning season).
Ministry to Support Children and Families
• 171 children attended CROS Camps
• 762 Thanksgiving and Christmas food boxes were distributed to local families.
• 783 holiday gift cards were donated to 310 families so they could provide holi
day gifts for their children.
Ministry Encouraging Self-Sufficiency
• The Caring Kitchen provided 15,773 referrals and services for basic needs.
• CROS Volunteers helped 1,139 people apply online for government benefits
such as SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, and temporary cash assistance.
Nutrition in a
Knapsack
“We deliver Nutrition in a Knapsack bags
each Friday during the school year to 75 students at Jupiter Elementary. As soon as we
arrive, the students grab their book bags and
come to the classroom door. Our reward for
this service: big smiles and hearing “Thank
You” and “Gracias” as the children return
to their desks.” - Ron Long, Jupiter First
Church CROS Liaison
“Mondays are usually the most difficult days.
They come in, and that’s when usually they
are complaining about being hungry early in
the morning, or they are complaining about
being tired and stuff like that. And with doing
the knapsacks filled with food, those same
kids are coming in, they’re ready, they’re
focused. They’re not as focused on eating.
There is definitely a difference.”
- Pine Grove Elementary Teacher
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