Mission and History
In 1974, a small group of visionaries gathered around a conference table in the former Cottage Grove Presbyterian Church with a goal of discerning the work that God was calling them to do. They could never have imagined the far-reaching impact that those decisions would have on the lives of thousands of men, women, and children in crisis as they struggled with homelessness, hunger, and basic human needs. That small group of innovative souls founded CROSS Ministries with the support of The Presbytery of Des Moines of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.) on the core belief that everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.
Over the years, CROSS maintained that core vision related to homelessness prevention while adding services including the community’s first Back-to-School Giveaway program in 1993 and a food pantry in partnership with the Des Moines Area Religious Council in 2010, followed by an additional partnership with IMPACT Community Action Partnership in 2016 to expand the pantry.
After 45 years of operating as CROSS Ministries, in 2019, CROSS changed their name and logo to CROSS Outreach operating as a separate non-profit agency. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, the tough decision was made to transfer the food pantry entirely under the IMPACT umbrella.
However, CROSS continues to focus on preventing homelessness and providing for other critical needs to at-risk people. Picture the under-employed single mother struggling to make ends meet in a challenging economy; the disabled person living on social security benefits that barely covers the rent; people with mental illness; military service veterans; refugees and immigrants; families facing eviction; and more. We provide them with the following services:
- Homelessness Prevention with financial assistance toward housing, electric and water bills.
- Basic Needs with gift cards for personal hygiene products and vouchers for the laundromat.
- Annual Back to School Giveaway event provides low-income families with much needed backpacks filled with school supplies for their children.
Our Mission:
- To provide financial assistance and other basic survival needs to people in crisis.
- To advocate for changing social, economic and political systems which perpetuate poverty and oppression.
- To create a vision of justice and provide educational opportunities to churches, organizations, and the community concerning the plight of the poor.
