Please make a donation to the CROSS Center. Any amount is greatly appreciated.
320-
Cross Center of
Benton Co, MN
150 Fourth Ave.
P.O. Box 205
Foley, MN 56329
Mondays:
1pm-
Thursdays:
10am-
Archives 2011
The Toy Distribution is on Saturday, December 17th at the First Presbyterian Church. The Cross Center is still in need of more toys. All help is appreciated!! Thank You!!
(posted 12-
November 16 is Give to the MAX Day. Every donation has a chance of being doubled!! Read More
(posted 11-
The CROSS Center recently had a site visit/inspection and we passed with flying colors. Thanks to everyone for all your hard work!!
(posted 11-
The Fall, 2011 Edition Newsletter is released. Read it now!
(posted 11-
Members of the Foley National Honor Society will be collecting nonperishable food items in the Foley neighborhood for the CROSS Center on Monday, October 31. Collection will start around 5:30 PM. Thank You!!
(posted 10-
CROSS will soon start registering families for holiday programs. We will again offer the toy distribution and the giving trees. We will need toys donated, sponsors for the families and special holiday volunteers. Please consider what your involvement will be this year. Watch for more information in the Benton County News in the weeks ahead.
(posted 10-
The CROSS Center is again collecting partially filled Coborns Turkey cards or unstamped Coborns receipts (the whole receipt please). This is a huge benefit for CROSS, as almost all of the turkeys we give during the holidays come to us through the Coborns Turkey Cards. Thank you to Coborns for this partnership and to everyone who donates their turkey stamps to us.
(posted 10-
CROSS will soon be sending out the CROSS newsletter, fall edition. If you would like to put your email address on the list, send it to us at crosscenter@hotmail.com
(posted 10-
The Scouts did a wonderful food drive for CROSS. They collected 639 pounds of food. That is great. Thank you Scouts and thank you to everyone who donated food.
(posted 10-
The school supply program that offered school supplies to Foley students during August,
served 63 students this year. A good supply of school supplies were donated, thank
you to all who helped. We will again be offering school supplies to all the parents
who are participating in the toy distribution in December. Often more supplies are
needed mid-
(posted 10-
The Clothing Store is OPEN once again!
(posted 9-
We are now: thecrosscenter.org
(posted 9-
2nd Annual Stone Creek/Cross Center Golf Fundraiser -
- YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GOLF to attend the this fund raiser.
- 3 person scramble -
Sign- up Noon to 1:00 - Groups can start up after they have signed -
in and are paired with another team. - Prizes awarded based on score from first nine holes.
- Special for Kids -
Free Driving Range open with clubs and buckets of balls. Putting Green available too. - $30 per Person includes Cart and 18 holes (Cross Center receives 50% of proceeds)
- Sign up or for more information call Stone Creek Golf Course (320) 968-
6017.
Additional activities for CROSS: There will be silent auction, food, Pampered Chef
and Tupperware demonstrations at Stone Creek on June 19. The Pampered Chef and Tupperconnect
party have both started pre-
The Tupperconnect party: We can enter your email address and you will be sent a link for ordering. Businesses in Foley who have order information, in paper form, available are: Curves, Market, Wellness Center and CROSS Center.
Any questions call Anne 320-
Pampered Chef: If you would like to place an order, you can go to www.pamperedchef.biz/carolluvskitchens. Click
"Shop on line" in the upper right corner and enter "CROSS Center". You can also
call Carol S. at 320-
Archives 2010
1st Annual Stone Creek/CROSS Center Golf Fundraiser -
- Stone Creek Golf Course, Foley
- 2 Person Scramble -
Sign- up Noon to 1:00 - Shotgun -
start at 1:00 - $30 per Person includes Cart and 18 Holes
- **CROSS Center receives 50% of the proceeds**
- Even if you aren’t a golfer, please join us!
- Vikings game on the big screen TV starting at Noon
- Silent Auctions
- Brats and burgers cooking on the grill
- To sign up or for more information, contact Stone Creek Golf Course (320) 968-
6017
REMODELING UPDATE!
- We at the CROSS Center enjoyed sharing our remodeled facility to friends during our open house celebration on August 11. Mr Youso gave CROSS a wonderful tribute in the Benton County News, which is appreciated.
- We now can announce the door prize winners. Linda Ekberg and Russ Beauchamp were the winners of Tupperware bowl sets, donated by Ann Skroch. Other winners were Jim Kothman, Alan Schmitz and Agnes Wenderski. Congratulations to all of you. Be sure and stop by the CROSS Center for your prize.
- Thank you for the donations of money that we received at the open house. It is being matched by Thrivent for Lutherans. It is just what was needed to repair the roof on the “cute little building” which is now the office for CROSS. The heavy rains in last couple weeks have proved a need for a new roof.
- The CROSS Center is now offering free clothing and household items to anyone who can use them. The shoppers have started coming in and are very grateful for the good used clothing, many are looking for school clothes.
- If you have items to donate, please check with us first, we can handle only so much at a time. Please, bring in your donations while we are open. So many nice clothes get ruined sitting out in the weather and have to be tossed. Do not bring us any appliances, TV, computers, furniture, or any thing that isn't in working condition, we can not handle them and can not afford to pay to have them hauled away.
- Thank you to a wonderful community for your support.
- CROSS hours: Monday 1 – 4; 6 – 8 and Thursday 10 – 3. Phone: 968-
7012. Web site: thecrosscenter.com
(posted 9-
REMODELING UPDATE!!!
- The remodel is almost complete and food distribution is back at 150 Fourth Ave! The initial remodeling project was expanded when the CROSS Center was gifted with an additional two neighboring buildings. Some of this extra space has already been included in the remodeling project and lets clients move easily through the Center.
- Clients first enter the CROSS Center through one of our new building (just to the right of our "old" door) and are checked in by a volunteer. Each family receives a shopping list that will help them choose their food. Then they pick up a grocery cart (donated by Coborn’s) and they start shopping! Volunteers are available to help whenever needed, but families are welcome to select their own food. This new system allows our clients freedom to choose food that their family needs and retain their dignity in the process.
- Because we needed time to focus on the food side of the CROSS Center, clothing distribution has not been set up yet. In the meantime, Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Oak Park had clothing available. THIS IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. A big THANK YOU to them for having made the clothing available during the remodel. We hope to have the clothing and household goods available at the CROSS Center before much longer – watch the Benton Country News and our website for details!
(updated 8-
CROSS Center Open House *You are Invited*
- The Cross Center of Foley will be having an Open House on Wednesday, August 11 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM and the public is invited. Through our community's generosity and two major grants we have done extensive remodeling in order to serve our clients more efficiently and with more dignity.
- John Reid has graciously donated his property next door to the Cross Center as well. This has allowed the Cross Center to have office space as well as a clothing distribution center. Come and see the commercial office space in the Rainbow building that will be rented out in order to help sustain the mission of the Cross Center.
- Thrivent Financial, Rum River branch will be matching funds up to $700 for this event. A collection box will be available for you to make contributions. Please give generously. All funds will be used to finish the final phase of remodeling the new property.
(posted 8-
REMODELING UPDATE!!!
- The remodel is almost complete and food distribution is back at 150 Fourth Ave! The initial remodeling project was expanded when the CROSS Center was gifted with an additional two neighboring buildings. Some of this extra space has already been included in the remodeling project and lets clients move easily through the Center.
- Clients first enter the CROSS Center through one of our new building (just to the right of our "old" door) and are checked in by a volunteer. Each family receives a shopping list that will help them choose their food. Then they pick up a grocery cart (donated by Coborn’s) and they start shopping! Volunteers are available to help whenever needed, but families are welcome to select their own food. This new system allows our clients freedom to choose food that their family needs and retain their dignity in the process.
- Because we needed time to focus on the food side of the CROSS Center, clothing distribution has not been set up yet. In the meantime, Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Oak Park has clothing available on Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 and also Monday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00. We hope to have the clothing and household goods available at the CROSS Center before much longer – watch the Benton Country News and our website for details!
(posted 7-
The food shelf is back home once again!
- We are now back at our original location once again (150 Fourth Ave.) after completing (for the most part) the remodeling project. We are learning the new system/space and soon will be getting the clothing program organized too. We are still not accepting any clothing or household items at this time. We will keep you posted on when that is available once again.
- In the meantime, Gethsemane Lutheran Oak Park is still running the free clothing
distribution and have now added more hours. They are open on Sunday morning from
8:30 -
11:30 and.Monday afternoon from 1- 4. - Thanks to all for your patience during the remodeling project.
(posted 6-
CROSS Center Building update.
- The new roof was an exciting accomplishment for CROSS last fall. No more worrying about leaking on our food when it rained. That was such an accomplishment and comfort for the food shelf.
- The first week of March, we moved everything out of the CROSS Center to make room
for the remodeling. We were offered a office space very close by to use as the food
shelf during that time. It is crowded but very workable for the short term. The clothes
all went to the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Oak Park, which gave them a wonderful
new mission to the community as they have the clothes available, free, to the public
on Sunday mornings. People need food and the clothes available to them. (Gethsemane
Lutheran Church in Oak Park will be open on Monday afternoon now as well as on Sunday
morning. Sunday, 8:30 -
11:30 and Monday 12 - 4. Thank you to everyone who helps with this wonderful mission.) - Then the remodel started. Volunteers came into the building and gutted it out. All the walls came out. Sheet rock and some additional insulation was nailed on the walls. Anyone who has brought anything into the CROSS Center by the back door will understand our excitement over the improvement there. That high threshold that we always had to step over, is now gone!! It is ramped on the inside and also the out side. Along with the ramp, double doors have been added to aid in unloading the food bank truck and other large loads.
- During this activity, the “Cute Little Building” next door was donated to CROSS !
It is a small building that will make a wonderful office space and give more room
to the Food Shelf. Anyone who has been in the CROSS Center or even looked in, will
remember that it was always very crowded. More space is a welcome relief. An enclosed
walk-
way has been built to connect the two buildings. - Many people ask about paying for our remodeling. First of all – None of the money given to CROSS to be used for food will be used for the building remodel. Both of our buildings have been gifts to us. Some remodeling services were also gifts. Grants were written, also as gifts, and the CROSS Center received money from two of those grants. This great community donated additional monies. All of the paint has been donated by Valspar Paints. Had the project remained limited to our original building, we would be well within the budgeted amount. However, with the additional building, our financial need has increased with the extra building space..
- Even with minimal construction, we are falling short on funds needed to complete the remodel project.
- To help us, we need a volunteer with creative ideas to help us raise some money.
- Donations would also be greatly appreciated. It is important to remember that none of the money given to CROSS for food will be used for the building remodel, so please designate the remodeling project with your donation. Checks can be mailed to:
CROSS Center of Benton Co., MN
PO Box 205
Foley, MN 56329
Thank you.
- If you have any questions about the CROSS Center, you can reach us at (320) 968-
7012 or by email at crosscenter@hotmail.com We are open Mondays from 1 - 4:00 and 6 - 8:00 and Thursdays from 10- 3:00.
(posted 5-
Making Bracelets to Help the CROSS
During the fall of 2009, Taylor Mondloch decided to help raise money for the
drive and she wanted to help out in her own way. Luckily for us, Taylor makes beautiful,
handmade bead bracelets plus book markers and erasers. After lots of time and hard
work on her projects, Taylor sold the one-
Thanks from all of us to Taylor and her family! And thanks to everyone else in the community who helps in their own way too!
(posted 4-
Benton County Employees Donate To CROSS Center and Foley Area CARE
Benton County employees continued what has become a tradition of raising funds for local charities at their holiday party. The county Henry’s Banquet Center in Foley. Once again money was raised from a silent auction and the proceeds were donated to the CROSS Center and Foley Area CARE.
Pictured from L to R are: Connie Ramberg, CARE Program Administrative Assistant; Janis Brown, CARE; Carole Mersinger, CROSS; and Tammy Bigelow, Benton County. (Benton County News Photo)
(posted 1-
The CROSS Center Continues to Need YOUR Help.
The building the CROSS Center had been renting was recently donated to our organization. With ownership, comes added responsibility to properly maintain our building and opportunity to make changes to better serve our clients and the community.
The CROSS Center first and foremost needed a new roof. This part of the remodeling project has been completed now. But the building itself had suffered from water damage as a result of the leaking roof.
The next part of the project is to update the interior of the building to make it a safe, clean facility to distribute food and clothing and to bring our building up to code. Some of the specific benefits include better layout of the building so that human traffic does not bottle neck in certain areas, office space that is private for the client and safe for the worker, new/better system for filling grocery orders, better layout of clothing/house wares utilizing the space more efficiently, and a cleaner work environment for the volunteers and clients.
Some of the items include updating the electrical, ensuring handicap accessibility
to the bathroom and other spaces in the store, removing the carpet, updating the
shelves for food storage, clothing area and updating some of the freezers for easier
accessibility. The price for this part of the project is $45-
As so many of you may know, remodeling doesn’t come cheap. The total project
will come in between $60-
The CROSS Center has submitted grant applications to assist with these projects. Matching funds from the community are expected by the grantors. This is where the CROSS Center still needs your help. The CROSS Center asks that you consider making a monetary donation for the CROSS Center Building Project. Thank you for your consideration.
Please mail donations to:
Frandsen Bank & Trust
c/o CROSS Center Building Project Fund
PO Box 367
341 Fourth Ave. N.
Foley, MN 56329.
The CROSS Center of Benton County is located at 150 Fourth Ave. N., Foley, MN 56329. The
CROSS Center is open Mondays from 1-
The CROSS (Christians Reaching Out in Social Service3) Center of Benton County
includes a food shelf, clothing center, information, referrals, and support. It
is a non-
Assistance is provided regardless of race, color or creed for those who qualify. The CROSS Center serves ALL of Benton County. In the true spirit of volunteerism, the CROSS Center is an all volunteer organization; there are no paid employees.
For the food shelf alone, during the past year ending in April 2009, the CROSS
Center served 1059 families or 3466 individuals. For June 2009, 49 new people were
served by the CROSS Center’s food shelf program. The new people served were primarily
children (ages 0-
Thank You!
(posted 3-
March Food Drive/Campaign
With the help of churches, schools, groups and individuals, we collected $8,738 and 5877 pounds of food during the March Food drive! Added to the Coborn’s Ham Cards, we were able to restock many of our shelves and will be able to offer our clients a bigger selection of greatly needed food.
The Foley Post Office collected 331 pounds of food May 8th, 2010, on their food collection. Thursday morning the volunteers were able to sort it all. Good work! Thank you to all who donated food and to the Foley Post Office!
(posted 4-
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