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The need for food assistance is rising, and with increased demand comes increased pressure on the hunger-relief network. Right now, a perfect storm of high food, housing and childcare costs mean more of our neighbors need help to get back on their feet, but keeping up with demand requires creative solutions and change. For Crosslines food pantry in Springfield, their major change is making a big impact on the community.

Crosslines food pantry was already taking on the rising demand for food assistance when their large freezer storage began failing two years ago. Several recurring costly repairs were the final straw that prompted Council of Churches of the Ozarks (CCO), the parent organization of Crosslines, to make a big decision – make more major repairs, or seek out a new headquarters and home for Crosslines food pantry. Fortunately, Ozarks Food Harvest had a grant opportunity available to assist with that decision.

In 2021, CCO announced their capital campaign to build a new location, which was completed earlier this year. Ozarks Food Harvest awarded Crosslines a total of $150,000 to install a drive-in freezer at their new facility. The freezer and cooler were the first phase of the new CCO headquarters and were completed before any other part of the building so Crosslines could continue providing food to neighbors without interruption.

“There’s no way to overstate how much the new building has changed for us,” shared Wes Buchholz, director of Crosslines in Springfield. “Refrigerator and freezer space has doubled, giving us the ability to store and distribute more fresh and frozen product. Now it feels more like a grocery store, which helps people feel valued and gives a greater sense of dignity.”

Crosslines is just one of several wraparound support services offered by CCO to help neighbors get back on their feet. Before the new headquarters, CCO programs were housed across multiple locations, but the new headquarters brings those services together to more effectively connect people to resources.

Wes shared the story of one woman who was referred to Crosslines for immediate food assistance after finding refuge at Safe to Sleep, a CCO women’s shelter. “She was already working when she went to Safe to Sleep, but her car had broken down,” Wes explained. Thanks to the new headquarters’ consolidated services, the woman received food from Crosslines to keep her going and was able to meet with a case worker the same day to connect her to car repair services. With basic necessities and transportation to work, she was soon able to generate enough income to get an apartment. When she got a promotion and no longer needed food assistance, the woman began donating money back to Crosslines.

Ozarks Food Harvest is proud to invest in Crosslines to make a difference in the community. As Wes shared, “It doesn’t seem like the need is slowing down any time soon, so it’s important for us to continue to find creative ways to serve folks and cost-efficient ways to source food. Ozarks Food Harvest is a huge part of that.”

The Food Bank’s support enables Crosslines to compassionately provide our neighbors in need with thousands of pounds of protein, garden-fresh produce, pantry staples and more. Wes shared, “If you’re hungry, it’s hard to make any kind of growth.” Thank you for your support. Together, we can Transform Hunger into Hope.