Campaign Priorities 

Building Renovations and Expansion 

Program Expansion & Enhancement 

Endowment – Investment in the future 

Serving the Wyandotte and Surrounding Communities Since 1963 

Nadia Marks and her two little boys were hungry. They were dirty. Three-year-old Micah carried what had once been a fluffy blue blanket. Five-year-old Tony walked with his eyes down, following his mother’s footsteps. It had been five months since Nadia lost her job and three months since they moved into their car to live. Then, someone told her about the Cross-Lines Community Outreach food kitchen. 

Nadia says it was the best day she could remember having in a very long time. It was the day she felt the tiniest bit of hope – and found people who listened, cared, and helped. 

Hope for a Better Tomorrow is more than a building project. It is about building access to services that are efficient, effective, and client-friendly for people who are living in poverty. It is about providing opportunities for growth, for sustenance, for charting a course to a more sustainable future and a better quality of life. Most of all, Hope for a Better Tomorrow is an investment in people.     

A commitment since 1963 

In 1963 a group of clergies from the Roanoke (Missouri) and Rosedale (Kansas) neighborhoods came together to work on addressing poverty. They focused on finding employment, food, medical, rental assistance, utility assistance, counseling, and other services for the poor. Two years later the group became known as Cross-Lines Cooperative Council and the Rev. Don Bakely became the first Executive Director. 

Cross-Lines opened a Thrift Store at 18th and Parallel in 1982 and began working with the “newly poor” – people whose lives had been interrupted by an unexpected loss – loss of a job, or perhaps the loss of health – that had led to poverty, fear, and loss of hope.  In 1991 Cross-Lines moved to the current location in Armourdale.   The Thrift Store moved to this location two years later and by 1996 the shower and laundry program were part of the ongoing programs and services offered at Cross-Lines. 

Cross-Lines was awarded a Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing grant from 2009 – 2012.  These federal economic stimulus funds provided intensive and extended case management services for people who had lost jobs or had other life-changing events and needed assistance to get back on their feet.  This program became the basis for the Housing Stabilization Program offered at Cross-Lines today. 

Through collaborations, partnerships, and coordination with other service providers in the community, and listening to the people being served, Cross-Lines is actively positioning itself to meet the needs of those who are living in, or at the cusp of, poverty for the next 50 years and beyond.   

People like Nadia, Micah and Tony 

Nadia, a Certified Nurse Aide studying to become a Certified Medical Aide, dreamed of becoming an RN. Five months ago, while on her way to work, her car was t-boned, and totalled, by a driver who was texting. The driver did not have insurance. 

Nadia walked away from the accident with bruises, a mild concussion, a broken arm, and no vehicle to drive to work.  She was eligible to be assigned desk work until her arm healed, but the taxi or Lyft fare was more than she made on her shift, and the bus route didn’t extend to her work location. She applied for a CNA position at a hospital and a nursing home closer to her, but they didn’t want to hire a CNA with a broken arm. 

Without a job she was unable to pay rent and was evicted. She found a van that ran for $1,000, but she couldn’t afford licensing and registration. She moved it to a homeless camp and set up a makeshift shelter she and her children would begin to call home.  

The Cross-Lines Mission Makes a Difference when Life Happens 

Over the years, thousands of Kansas Citians and others who are passing through, have found a hot meal, a warm shower, clothes to wear, clean diapers for a baby, and programs offering a gateway out of poverty. 

Cross-Lines means hope to people like Nadia. When she and her boys walked in the door of the food kitchen, they were drawn to the comforting smell of a hot breakfast. They were greeted warmly, made their selections, and someone helped Micah carry his tray to the table. Tony looked up long enough to say, “I can do it.” A volunteer stopped by the table to let Nadia know when lunch would be served and asked if they would like a shower and some clean clothes and blankets. 

A full stomach, a clean body, fresh clothing – all of these are things most of us take for granted. Five months ago, Nadia was taking them for granted, too. Then, as most of us say when the coffee maker quits making coffee, “Life Happens.” 

The stark truth is that “Life” does happen, in unexpected ways. And when it comes with immediate or creeping poverty that could be averted through an outstretched hand, all of us are called to help. 

Today, Cross-Lines is supported by a local network of generous businesses, churches, and individuals. Grant proposals are submitted to local, regional, and national Foundations. Participation with county, state, and federal government programs provide additional funding and access to services benefiting the population Cross-Lines Community Outreach serves. 

Some of these programs and services include: 

  • Emergency Assistance such as prescription assistance, food, clothing, diapers, homelessness prevention and re-housing, as well as rent and utility assistance. In 20–, Cross-Lines assisted 648 families with rent or utilities. 
  • Self-sufficiency classes for budgeting, nutrition/cooking, and job skills training. 
  • Prom Clothing Drive offering free, formal dresses for upcoming events. Around 800 gowns, suits and tuxedos were supplied to grateful teens in 20–. 
  • Kits for Kids (K4K) providing backpacks with school uniforms and supplies to 748 students from local pre-school through college entry. 
  • Christmas Store that gives families the opportunity to “shop” for their own gifts to give to their children at Christmas. Approximately 550 families are served annually. 
  • Community Garden where almost 5,000 pounds of food is harvested and shared each year. 

Each year, Cross-Lines distributes approximately one million pounds of food through a variety of venues: 

  • Over 100,000 breakfasts and hot lunches were served at the Community Annex in 20–.  
  • Almost 7,000 adults and children per year access the food pantry in emergency situations. Monthly commodity distribution of groceries goes to more than 1,200 elderly, disabled, homebound and single mothers with children in the three-county area. 
  • Brown bag lunches are provided to approximately 6,000 working clients during the year. 

For families struggling to make it through today, Cross-Lines offers practical help and compassion, while extending hope that tomorrow can be better. 

Forward Thinking, Wise Stewardship 

Cross-Lines provides these services with minimal staffing, relying heavily on volunteers.  These countless volunteers are the backbone of many of the services given to individuals and families every day. 

The needs and numbers of those being served are growing, however, and Cross-Lines must increase its current space to accommodate more community volunteers, additional donations that would be made available, and expanded programs to build opportunities for self-sufficiency. In addition, it is imperative to make that space accessible to individuals with mobility issues since much of the current space can be reached now only via stairs. 

The organization is currently renting a warehouse several miles away from Cross-Lines’ main campus for an expanded food service program added a few years ago; and an assessment of the organization’s existing buildings reveals a need to consolidate services. Trying to assist clients from multiple locations makes it impossible to adequately provide services to those in need—especially the elderly, disabled, moms with small children, and those without transportation.  A central location will provide access to all the services and assistance that Cross-Lines has available. 

The recommendation  

  • Construct a new 10,000-square foot facility on the existing Cross-Lines property, add adequate parking, and install an elevator in the administration building.  The elevator would provide access to classes promoting self-sufficiency, the preparing for employment lab, and the computer lab. 
  • Set up an endowment to provide funding for the new building’s long-term maintenance. While the principal will remain untouched, interest generated by the endowment could be used to address future program and maintenance needs. An endowment demonstrates forward thinking and wise stewardship. 
  • Continue providing and expanding programs that are a pathway away from, and out of, poverty. 

Campaign Goals for Hope for a Better Tomorrow 

Cross-Lines Community Outreach is well known as a good neighbor in this community. Anyone is invited to visit and take advantage of the breakfast and lunch meals. The other services are primarily designated for Wyandotte County residents. The numbers of people who can step away from the brink of poverty because of the help Cross-Lines was able to provide is humbling. 

Nadia and her boys are one of those families your donations have helped. 

Nadia entered the rehousing program and, with the help of Cross-Lines, found an apartment close to her work. The housing programs paid her rent for the first six months. She completed her studies and is now a certified medical assistant. She has begun taking classes pursuing her R.N. dreams. 

Surprisingly, the van still runs. It is now registered and tagged. 

Best of all, Micah has a bright smile and is full of conversation. Tony came to Cross-Lines to get his back-to-school kit and is now a proud kindergarten student who holds his head high and makes eye contact with everyone he meets. 

Without your support, that could have ended so differently.  

This is who you help. Nadia could be in your family or your neighbor.  

In fact, she could be you. 

  • Nadia was fine one day. Then a car hit her and totaled her car. 
  • Her arm was broken, and she couldn’t do her job with her broken arm. 
  • Also, she didn’t have transportation to her job. 
  • She couldn’t pay rent and she was evicted. 
  • She purchased a running van for $1,000 but could not pay for tags or registration. 
  • She moved herself and her children into the van. 
  • They were hungry, dirty, and she was afraid of the changes she was seeing in her children. 
  • Then she found Cross-Lines, and hope. 

In just five months I had gone from a hopeful and happy young working single mom with two delightful boys to a dirty, hungry, frightened mom who was focusing more on survival and safety than on building a future. Honestly? I thought a future was out of reach. I am so thankful for Cross-Lines. I am giving, and I am thankful for each one of you who will give to this campaign of hope. You are saving others, just like my boys and me.  

From the bottom of my heart… 

Nadia