Crossroads Community Services’ mission is to nourish our community’s low-income families and individuals by providing nutritious food and supportive education.
Founded in 2001, Crossroads became an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 2015 and relocated from downtown Dallas to a 72,000 sq. ft. southern Dallas service center—the former home of North Texas Food Bank—in January 2019. Since that time, food distribution has increased more than five times over—from 2.25 million pounds to 11.8 million—and the number of individuals we serve has multiplied seven times, from 12,000 to at least 84,000.
Crossroads provides nutritional support to low-income households and families in crisis in Dallas, Ellis and Navarro Counties through direct services at their own food pantry and by supplying a network of 150+ partners. The partners help to bring healthy food assistance closer to the homes of those who need it most. They include places of worship, schools, community centers, social service agencies and other nonprofit groups – all powered by volunteers.
At Crossroads, volunteers sort and pack mixed boxes of donated food and help operate the current drive-thru system. They interact with participants and load boxes into vehicles. Volunteers who need to serve remotely call homebound seniors and COVID-19-positive clients to check in; others deliver groceries to these same isolated individuals.
In addition to the efforts to meet urgent, basic needs, Crossroads maintains an ongoing research collaboration with University of Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center.
One current project, SNAP-Appointment Coordination (SNAP-AC), is a randomized controlled study that will help determine whether timing food pantry services to just before someone receives SNAP benefits (formerly Food Stamps) can help them avoid monthly household food shortages and improve health outcomes, i.e. better nutrition, fewer emergency room visits and decreased financial stress. Clients appreciate having appointments to visit the pantry. They help families budget and plan, schedule around other commitments and avoid long waits.
Another project, the BUILD Health Challenge®, focuses on improving health equity and outcomes in southern Dallas. Through it, we are integrating health and wellness counseling, screenings, immunizations, telehealth experiences and safety net services offered by Parkland Hospital, Dallas County Health and Human Services and other partners at food distribution sites.
The Episcopal Foundation of Dallas exists to strengthen and support faith communities by partnering wise investments with purposeful giving.
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