Articles

Redirecting surplus meals to neighbouring charities
Urban kitchens across Australia, from a community hall in Parramatta to a neighbourhood centre in Fitzroy, regularly cook more food than their service numbers…
How we cope with the emotional toll of hearing traumatic stories
Working at the front line of a New York City shelter means hearing stories that stay with you long after your shift ends. Guests arrive carrying grief,…
A Weekly Pro Bono Legal Clinic Welcomes Our Neighbors
When someone loses their home, the legal problems that follow can be just as devastating. A landlord's notice, a denied benefit, or unpaid fines can quickly…
What volunteers learn during their first shelter shift
The plate clatters when it lands, steam rising from a portion of rice served without ceremony. A guest jokes about eating the plate, and the room softens.…
Clearer Paths Through Care With Multilingual Signage
A community facility can feel unfamiliar before a guest has spoken to anyone. A small sign may determine whether someone finds the food pantry, understands…
Securing funding for a new van to expand our food rescue reach
When a refrigeration unit starts humming unevenly or a transmission slips on a steep hill, every food rescue organisation feels the pinch. Crossroads Community…
Training security staff to create a welcoming community space
In Melbourne's inner suburbs and across Sydney's western reaches, community organisations have spent years refining the balance between feeling safe and…
Why Winter Bedding Matters for Guests Facing Homelessness
Winter can turn an ordinary night outdoors, in a doorway, or in temporary accommodation into a serious health risk. For guests using Crossroads Community NYC…
How a Neighborhood Bagel Bakery Feeds Our Breakfast Program
Every Tuesday at 6:14 a.m., a white van pulls up to our community kitchen in Manhattan carrying crates of bagels still warm from the night before. They come…
When a donation truck arrives mid-service without warning
A knock on the loading dock door at the wrong moment is familiar to anyone running community food programs. From Surry Hills drop-in centres to a Harlem…