Cross-Lines Community Outreach

Who Can Visit?

The Community Market currently serves Wyandotte County residents only. The program is designed for families and individuals facing food insecurity, including those who struggle to put food on the table between paychecks or when an unexpected emergency happens.

How Often You Can Visit?

Shoppers can visit the Community Market once every 60 days.

Good to Know

When you shop at the Community Market, you receive points based on your household size. Those points let you get enough food for about ten meals. For example, a household of 1 to 2 people gets 30 points and can take home two full plastic bags of fresh produce plus other items like meat, eggs, butter, and canned goods. One reviewer shared that the pantry gives you "real meat and food people want," not just a box of green beans. Another reviewer described it as "a little grocery store" where you pick out items based on points.

The Community Market is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Food and goods donations can be dropped off there during those hours.

Food & Essentials

The Community Market is set up like a real grocery store. Near the front, baskets hold fresh produce such as ears of corn, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, potatoes, and cilantro. The aisles are stocked with canned goods, peanut butter, and dried beans. Large refrigerators hold meat, milk, butter, and eggs. The market also carries full-size toiletry items like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant, plus cleaning supplies, paper towels, diapers, and toilet paper. The market includes items relevant to different cultures, such as Hispanic food items like mole, beans, and tajin seasoning.

How to Pick Up

The Community Market is a client-choice pantry designed to give shoppers a more dignified, grocery-store-like experience. When you arrive, you are greeted at a welcome desk before getting your cart and shopping up and down wide, well-lit aisles. You choose the items that are most appropriate for your family using the points assigned to your household.

Additional Support

Cross-Lines offers a wide range of services beyond food:

• Community Kitchen: Free breakfast and lunch are served Monday through Friday at the Don Bakely Community Annex, located at 646 S. 7th Street Trafficway. Meals are served in the dining room. Sack lunches are also available for takeaway for people on their way to work. The kitchen serves about 150 people for lunch every day, and serves many children and families during the summer when school is out.
• Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance: Cross-Lines can help Wyandotte County residents prevent eviction or utility shutoffs, and can help reconnect services that have already been disconnected. Community Resource Navigators work with each family to assess their needs and work toward long-term financial stability.
• Street Outreach: Community Resource Navigators go out into the community to connect people experiencing homelessness with healthcare, social benefits, and permanent housing. People experiencing homelessness can also visit the Cross-Lines Main Office to learn more.
• ID and Benefits Help: Reviewers mention that Cross-Lines can help people get an ID, birth certificate, or Social Security card.
• Medical Help: Reviewers note that Cross-Lines can assist with medical needs.

Facilities

• Emergency Showers: Free shower services for people experiencing homelessness are available in the Community Kitchen, Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• Thrift Store: Cross-Lines has a thrift store on site where clothing and other items are available at low prices. Reviewers mention discount days are offered.

Ways to Give

Cross-Lines accepts several types of donations:

• Monetary donations: You can donate online or by check at cross-lines.org/how-to-help/donate.html.
• In-kind food and goods donations: Items can be dropped off at the Community Market during operating hours (Mon-Thurs, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.). Needed food items include canned fruits and vegetables, condiments like mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and salsa, dry and canned beans, canned soups, cooking oil, small pop-top cans, fruit cups, granola bars, and breakfast cereal. Hygiene and household items needed include diapers (especially sizes 4, 5, and 6), shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, razors, menstrual supplies, laundry detergent, dish soap, and general cleaning supplies.
• Planned Giving: You can include Cross-Lines in your will or estate plan. Learn more at cross-lines.org/how-to-help/legacy-of-hope-society.html.
• Circle of Hope Monthly Giving: Join a recurring giving program at cross-lines.org/how-to-help/circleofhope.html.

You can call (913) 281-3388 or visit cross-lines.org/who-we-are/contact-us.html to arrange a donation or to set up a food drive for your home, church, or business.

How to Join the Team?

Cross-Lines uses more than 1,500 volunteers each year. Volunteer shifts are available Monday through Friday between 6:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. There are no after-hours or weekend shifts at this time.

• Community Market: Open to volunteers ages 10 and up.
• Community Kitchen: Open to volunteers ages 13 and up.
• All volunteers under 18 must have a supervising adult volunteer with them.
• Groups of up to 10 volunteers may also be able to come together during regular hours.

To get started, complete the online volunteer application at cross-lines.org/how-to-help/volunteer.html. The Volunteer Manager will reach out by email with next steps. For questions, contact Volunteer Manager Rachel Magathan at RachelM@cross-lines.org or (913) 281-3388.

Court-ordered community service is also available on a case-by-case basis for adults ages 18 and up.