Let me explain...
Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of visiting Cross-Lines Community Outreach, Inc. This truly spectacular organization currently operates from the former St. Thomas Catholic Church at the corner of South Pyle St. and Shawnee Ave. in the Armourdale neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas.
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| Cross-Lines has a base of operations in the church, rectory and school that were formerly St. Thomas Catholic Church |
Here's the Cross-Lines story as told on the "History" page of their web site.
"Cross-Lines was built on a simple idea — that poverty borne problems could be answered best by looking to the community for solutions and working together to tackle them.
"In 1963 a group of ministers and concerned citizens joined together to improve the plight of the poor. Under their leadership they created a legacy of programs that have positively impacted the lives of thousands of needy people.
"For more than 45 years Cross-Lines Community Outreach, supported by a network of businesses, churches and individuals, has provided a daily source of assistance for at-risk families, the elderly and single individuals."
Last year alone, Cross-Lines provided:
- Emergency utility assistance for 117 households
- Hot showers for 4,544 people
- Free clothing for 586 households
- Emergency groceries for 1,003 households
- Commodities for 15,009 seniors
- Nearly 18,000 hot breakfasts
- Over 56,000 lunches
- Christmas Store shopping for 500 families
- Backpacks and school supplies for more than 1,700 children
No words can describe my awe and amazement at the way the staff and volunteers of this organization truly touch and lift up people all across Wyandotte County who are confronted by poverty.
But here's the rub...Cross-Lines will celebrate 50 years of service to Wyandotte County in 2013 and the need for their services is every bit as great today as it was the year it was formed. At the same time, they are facing reductions in the funding and resources they leverage to lift up those who are in need. Visit their web site to learn how you can help.
Last week, after the fun picking up illegally discarded tires, I told you that I felt both satisfied and frustrated at the same time.
After visiting Cross-Lines, I felt both lifted up and beaten down at the same time.
Lifted up because I am truly inspired by the tremendous work that the staff of Cross-Lines does on a daily basis. They take limited resources and multiply them several fold to benefit people who are in need all across our community.
Beaten down because I was once again reminded of the enormity of the challenge facing Cross-Lines and all of us. If the old saying is true that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, then it makes me wonder if a community is only as strong as its weakest citizen.
If that is true, then I think that each one of us becomes a part of the ultimate solution. What is the solution? I'm not sure. I'd appreciate your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.
In closing, one of the organization's truly neat accomplishments is the quarter acre garden that sits across the street from the main Cross-Lines building. This tiny plot of land is tended by community families and yielded over 5,000 pounds of healthy produce during the last growing season. Cool!!
After visiting Cross-Lines, I felt both lifted up and beaten down at the same time.
Lifted up because I am truly inspired by the tremendous work that the staff of Cross-Lines does on a daily basis. They take limited resources and multiply them several fold to benefit people who are in need all across our community.
Beaten down because I was once again reminded of the enormity of the challenge facing Cross-Lines and all of us. If the old saying is true that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, then it makes me wonder if a community is only as strong as its weakest citizen.
If that is true, then I think that each one of us becomes a part of the ultimate solution. What is the solution? I'm not sure. I'd appreciate your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.
In closing, one of the organization's truly neat accomplishments is the quarter acre garden that sits across the street from the main Cross-Lines building. This tiny plot of land is tended by community families and yielded over 5,000 pounds of healthy produce during the last growing season. Cool!!
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| Some crops are planted directly in the rich earth that was in the flood plane of the Kaw River for years. |
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| Other crops are planted in raised beds which makes them easier to tend and harvest. |
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| Community families tend the plots. They both consume and share the harvest. |
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| Look...this garden is growing children! Just kidding. The child of one of the community gardeners pointed with pride to a pepper plant that has been in her family for 100 years. |
~ Brian
bmckiernan@wycokck.org
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