Christians Reaching Out To Society Inc

TO FEED THE HUNGRY; FOOD RECOVERY; WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY.

COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRIESCROS OPERATES EIGHT FOOD PANTRIES. SEVEN ARE IN COMMUNITY PARTNER BUILDINGS LOCATED IN FOOD-INSECURE COMMUNITIES. THE EIGHTH IS A MOBILE PANTRY UNIT THAT SERVES EIGHT LOCATIONS WITH DISTRIBUTIONS DURING EVENING AND WEEKEND HOURS, AND WHICH PROVIDES PANTRY ACCESS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS OR BARRIERS TO TRANSPORTATION. THE PANTRIES DISTRIBUTE BAGS OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD WHICH LAST A MINIMUM OF FOUR DAYS. FRESH PRODUCE IS DISTRIBUTED, WHEN AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS FROZEN MEATS. IN 2021, WHILE CONTINUING WITH COVID PROTOCOLS, CROS PANTRIES DISTRIBUTED FOOD TO 75,709 INDIVIDUALS (DUPLICATED); 30% WERE CHILDREN; 12% WERE SENIORS. IN 2021, WE HAD 5,399 INDIVIDUALS COME TO THE PANTRIES SEEKING FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

GLEANING AND FOOD RECOVERYGLEANING IS THE COLLECTION OF CROPS EITHER FROM FARMERS' FIELDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MECHANICALLY HARVESTED OR FROM FIELDS WHERE IT IS NOT ECONOMICALLY PROFITABLE TO HARVEST, DUE TO LOW MARKET PRICES. PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL GROWERS WHO ALLOW ACCESS TO FIELDS PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE THAT IS OFTEN LACKING IN THE DIETS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE. CROS'S GLEANING PROGRAM USES AN ARMY OF APPROXIMATELY 2,360 VOLUNTEERS TO GLEAN FRESH PRODUCE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO TO WASTE. PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FOOD BANKS, THE FRESH PRODUCE IS DISTRIBUTED TO MEAL KITCHENS AND FOOD PANTRIES THAT FEED THE HUNGRY. MODIFIED PROCESSES WERE STILL IN PLACE IN 2021 DUE TO PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS. 636,129 POUNDS OF PRODUCE WAS RECOVERED IN 2021.

THE CARING KITCHEN THE CARING KITCHEN IS A COMMUNITY-CENTERED MEAL PROGRAM THAT INSURES HUNGRY PEOPLE ARE FED SIX DAYS OF THE WEEK. LUNCH IS SERVED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND BAG LUNCHES ARE DISTRIBUTED ON SATURDAY. MEALS ARE DELIVERED TO HOMEBOUND CLIENTS BY VOLUNTEERS WHO ALSO DO HEALTH/WELFARE CHECK-INS. THE CARING KITCHEN IS A FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT COLLECTS SAFE AND WHOLESOME FOOD DONATED FROM COMMERCIAL SOURCES TO MEET THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF THE HUNGRY. IN 2021, THE DELIVERY OF SERVICE METHOD, CREATED THE PRIOR YEAR DUE TO THE COVID, CONTINUES WITH PROVIDING TO-GO MEALS INSTEAD OF SERVING CONGREGANT MEALS. IN 2021, THE CARING KITCHEN SERVED 40,913 MEALS.

CROS CAMPCROS' CAMP PROGRAM PROVIDES FUN CAMP EXPERIENCES DURING THE BREAKS FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN TITLE 1 ZIP CODES (NEIGHBORHOODS RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS WHERE AT LEAST 40% OF STUDENTS ARE FROM FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOMES). SUMMER CAMPERS RECEIVE LUNCH AND A SNACK DAILY AS WELL AS BACKPACKS FILLED WITH FOOD TO TAKE HOME OVER THE WEEKEND. A SCHOOL READINESS CURRICULUM IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF CROS CAMP TO PREVENT THE DECLINE IN ACADEMIC SKILLS THAT CAN OCCUR OVER THE SUMMER BREAK. IN 2021, 85 CHILDREN ATTENDED CROS' SUMMER CAMP WITH COVID PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.