Executive Director’s Message
Dear Friends:
Right now, families across our community are facing growing hardship. I recently joined Congresswoman Lois Frankel and other local leaders to speak out against proposed cuts to the SNAP (food stamp) and Medicaid
programs, cuts that would severely impact the very people we serve.
Our annual Summer Match Challenge is underway, and your support is more powerful than ever. Thanks to generous friends, every gift you give will be matched dollar for dollar up to $30,000 until September 1, 2025. That means twice the meals, twice the relief, and twice the hope for our neighbors in need.
Summer is already one of the most difficult times of year. When school lets out, children who rely on free or reduced-price meals often go without. Parents must stretch their limited incomes even further.
And this year, the challenge is even greater.
CROS Ministries has experienced a 10% drop in funding, primarily due to significant cuts in government support. Reductions to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and federal budget freezes mean less USDA food from food banks, forcing us to purchase more at higher costs.
From January to April 2025, our food pantries served 39,847 people including children, seniors, and first-time visitors. During the same period, our Caring Kitchen program prepared, served, and delivered 19,577 meals to individuals who are homebound, hungry, and often isolated.
We must remember that behind every statistic, there are real people.
Janet lost her vision in one eye and faces multiple health issues that prevent her from working. While she waits for disability and SNAP approval, she is living on a very limited income and can no longer cook for herself. Thanks to donors like you, she was connected to our Caring Kitchen home-delivered meal program. She now receives five healthy meals a week, meals she can simply heat and enjoy. Janet says this small service brings her “peace of mind,” knowing she no longer has to choose between food, rent, and medicine.
This is the impact of your generosity.
Together, we can ensure our brothers, sisters, and neighbors in need have access to healthy food.
We cannot meet the rising need alone. Please consider giving today, and your gift will be matched dollar for dollar, instantly doubling your impact!
With Gratitude and Hope,
Ruth Mageria
Executive Director
