Non-perishable food items are collected by congregations throughout Palm Beach County and taken to the closest pantry. In 2009, 41,142 people received emergency food, nearly half of them children.

Volunteers are needed at the pantries Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to sort and shelve food, to pack and distribute food bags, to pick-up food. Congregations and community groups are needed to collect food.

Each bag of food distributed from the pantries contains a slip of paper which reads:

"This is a gift of God's love from local churches and synagogues. The

food pantry is a ministry of C.R.O.S. Ministries."

How we've helped Sharon and Jack were stable and secure until Sharon lost her job at the airline. Shortly after that, Jack was laid off. Their stability was suddenly gone and they were struggling to keep their home and feed their children. They came to the food pantry for help with food so they would have money to pay their mortgage.

Pantries locations are given below. You may go directly to the pantry and will receive assistance if you have not been to the pantry in the past six months. Persons visiting the food pantries should bring identification and the Social Security cards for all persons receiving food, and a paystub or an approval letter from HCD, WIC, SSI, Medicait, Housing, TANF, free or reduced school lunch, food stamps, if available.

The Lake Worth pantry is located at the Department of Children and Families at 4220 Lake Worth Rd. between Kirk Rd. and Military Trail. The building is on the south side of the street across from The Home Depot in the Richie Plaza. The pantry is in DCF Lobby B. Enter the lobby and sign in on the pantry clip board. A food pantry volunteer will assist you with food. Pantry hours are: Monday  and Thursday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday 1 to 4 p.m., Wednesday 11a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday noon to 3 p.m.

The Delray Beach pantry is located in the Neighborhood Resource Center at 141 SW 12th Ave., Delray Beach.  Use the parking lot behind the NRC and walk along the north side of the building to use the main entrance. A food pantry volunteer will assist you with food.  Pantry hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday noon to 3 p.m., Tuesday Evenings 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Riviera Beach pantry is located at the Housing Partnership and Parent Child Center at 2001 Blue Heron Blvd. at the southwest corner of Blue Heron and Congress Ave.   Enter the parking lot on Congress Ave. and use the building entrance on the north side of the building.  Tell the receptionist in the lobby you are there for the pantry.  A food pantry volunteer will assist you with food.  Pantry hours are Monday , Wednesday, and Friday 9:30 a.m. to noon.

C.R.O.S. also operates a food pantry in Indiantown. The Indiantown pantry is located at 15377 SW 150th St. at the corner of 150th St. and SW Jackson Ave. on the east side of SR 710.  Use the west parking lot and enter through the gate. Pantry hours are 3 to 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays.

In accordance with Federal law and U. S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Contact persons:

For general pantry information

Claudia Rosado, Administrative Assistant

(561) 233-9009 x103

E-mail: crosado@crosministries.org

If you would like to volutneer at or collect food for the Lake Worth, Riviera Beach, or Indiantown pantries

Ruth Mageria, Volunteer & Congregational Development

(561) 233-9009 x105

E-mail: rmageria@crosministries.org

If you would like to volunteer at or collect food for the Delray Beach pantry

Juanita Bryant Goode, South County Coordinator

(561) 243-7634

E-mail: communityfoodpan@bellsouth.net