Crossroads Mission Avenue

Crossroads Mission Avenue started as a soup kitchen serving one meal daily with one bed in 1983. The vision was to serve the hungry and needy as they sought assistance. That has since grown into three campuses in Hastings, Kearney, and Grand Island. Crossroads provides programming to end the cycle of homelessness by utilizing a 4-Phase Recovery Program, including life skills training, one-on-one case management with prescription medication management and medical referrals, transitional housing, and more.

After recognizing a need in the community, Crossroads purchased a building at 907 W. 8th St., which now houses our Lexington Mission Avenue Thrift Store. Crossroads Mission Avenue is a non-profit that has been serving the homeless and needy in Central Nebraska for over 40 years. Crossroads' six Mission Avenue Thrift Stores throughout Central Nebraska provide vital operational support for the homeless ministry of Crossroads and are a significant part of operational support for the homeless ministry of Crossroads and are a significant part of the Missions' sustainability model. The Lexington Mission Avenue Thrift Store has brought employment and volunteer opportunities into the community, as well as needed partnerships with community agencies to offer court-ordered community service hours. The store offers a low-cost alternative for necessities such as clothing and household goods, helping incomes go further! Over $5,500 worth of goods have been supplied to Lexington residents free of charge through our Community Needs Voucher program, assisting more than 150 families in need. The store also offers recycling opportunities for the community, as they accept donations of no-longer-needed items, keeping those items off the streets and out of landfills! Every sale at Lexington Mission Avenue Thrift supports the homeless ministry of Crossroad Mission Avenue! 

A capital campaign to bring homeless services to Lexington continues. More than 170 Dawson County residents in need have sought homeless services at our closest location in Kearney, while this process has been underway. A grant funding opportunity of nearly $1.5 million has been applied for, with awards to be announced in December 2024. If funding is approved, construction will follow in 2025, providing emergency shelter and transitional housing within the Lexington Community. Each Crossroads campus provides services that include safe shelter, hot meals, life skills classes, and personalized case management that helps our guests gain employment, financial independence, and stable housing.

Crossroads began working in Lexington by partnering with Food Bank for the Heartland in July 2022 to continue the monthly food distribution at the Dawson County Fairgrounds. Crossroads staff and volunteers from the community serve approximately 450 families on the first Thursday of every month! Over 11,000 households representing more than 42,000 individuals have received assistance through this program since then!