Crossroads Nogales Mission

Crossroads Nogales Mission is a Christ-centered, non-profit shelter community providing help, hope, compassionate care and recover to disadvantaged men, women and families who are homeless, addicted and/or involved in domestic violence. Then shelter provides housing, food, resources and recovery programs to those in need. Crossroads Mission is the only homeless shelter in Nogales.

Crossroads Nogales was founded in 1995 by Directors Ben and Bert Wenke to help the hungry and the poor, shelter the homeless and give people a beginning of a new life. 
Since the Wenke’s retirement the transition of the Mission has been facilitated by City Gate Network. This organization is comprised of 300 Gospel Missions throughout the country. Their function is to provide legal assistance when needed and registration with state and local governments as well as reports necessary for non-profit status.
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The new board is meeting this month is to plan short- and long-term efforts to help recover from the border being closed for over a year.  
The acting Director of the Mission at the time of the Wenke”s retiring this Spring has been asked to continue her duties. The day-to-day operations have continued withouta pause. The renewal of documents for people to cross back over the border has been slow, as long as 9 months for some.
The last event that included the Wenke’s was Easter ham dinner where 180 people were served and 8 volunteers from VPC were there for serving and cleanup. The attendance for morning chapel and lunch has fluctuated between 40 and 60 daily. Bags of food and clothing items are popular function at the Mission.

The women’s shelter is operational as well as the men’s dormitory. There are cases where the facility can’t accept overnight guests without proper documentation from the border patrol.
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The last report received was that all the bills were paid and up to date. Donations are down but the staff and board members are looking forward to getting programs back up and functioning. The Wenke’s dream and efforts of changing lives over past 25 years will continue. 
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HOW CAN YOU HELP?
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  • Pray for Crossroads Mission because the decline of donations has hit them hard.

  • Pray that a new Crossroads Mission CEO/Director can be found to replace founders Ben and Bert Wenke who want to retire. They will continue in their positions until someone is hired. 

  • Help supply food and clothing.  Needed are canned fruits, canned vegetables, pasta, powdered milk, sugar, rice, peanut butter, jelly, tomato sauce and spices.  Clean and gently-used clothes are also needed.  Place your donations in the Crossroads Mission box located in Valley Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall. 

  • Become a volunteer to prepare a hot lunch at Crossroads Mission.  Valley Presbyterian has designated the 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays of each month of the year to travel to Nogales, Arizona, to make lunch and serve it to 50-70 people in need of a meal.  Pick a Wednesday and text/call Joan Bolin, (206) 465-3944, to get on the schedule.


Mission Committee Contact, Les Walter, can be reached through the VPC office email, 
VPC-office@valleypres.net
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​Crossroads Mission
338 Morley Avenue  
P.O. Box 2246   
Nogales, AZ  85628
(520) 264-8434
https://crossroadsmissionnogales.org/
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Eight volunteers from Valley helped prepare and serve Easter dinner.
Valley Presbyterian women in Crossroads' kitchen to prepare lunch.
Valley Presbyterian women in Crossroads' kitchen ready to serve the meal they prepared.
Valley Presbyterian women, on behalf of our Church, presented Ben and his helper with donated hams for Crossroads' Christmas dinner.