BROKEN BOW — Crossroads Mission Avenue has opened a sixth thrift store location in Broken Bow, the location offers low-cost options for clothing and household goods.
Crossroads Mission Avenue has been serving the homeless in Central Nebraska for 40 years, with locations in Kearney, Grand Island, and Hastings.
The Broken Bow Mission Avenue Thrift Store is located at 440 South 8th St., right along the downtown square. The location officially opened its doors on Monday, Dec. 11.
All proceeds support the efforts of Crossroads Mission Avenue as they provide meals and care for the homeless in central Nebraska.
Daniel Buller, Executive Director for Crossroads Mission Avenue, is excited to see the addition of Mission Avenue Thrift in Custer County.
“Crossroads Mission Avenue continues to establish a presence throughout Central Nebraska, not only with homeless shelters currently in Hastings, Kearney, and Grand Island but other facilities in new cities – the most recent being Broken Bow Mission Avenue Thrift. Crossroads’ expansion in the region is an effort toward homelessness prevention. These expansion efforts are meeting the needs of food insecurities, creating local career opportunities, supporting low-income families, and providing sustainable recycle opportunities, while continuing to support our efforts,” Buller said.
Crossroads other Mission Avenue Thrift locations are in the Tri-Cities, Lexington and the Holdrege location opened in August.
Buller said Crossroads had been in discussions for several months about the expansion into Broken Bow. He said the expansion works geographically for the organization as they seek to serve a greater number of residents in central Nebraska.
It was noted that 1,100 people called Crossroads home for a time in 2022.
Broken Bow is a vibrant community and will be a great location to do business in, Buller noted. The stores not only provide income, but also serve as an outreach into the local community, which they want to partner with, said Buller.
The Broken Bow community response to Crossroads opening the thrift store has been, “arms wide open,” Buller said.
Custer County residents can recycle their unneeded items by donating to the Thrift Store.
“Crossroads also sponsors a Community Voucher program, which provides basic clothing and household necessities for Broken Bow families through partnerships with local agencies, using resources from the Mission Avenue Thrift Store,” Crossroads stated in a press release.
“The new Mission Avenue Thrift store offers job training experience for Crossroads’ guests and also provides employment and volunteer opportunities for the local community. As a non-profit organization, Crossroads will continue to explore avenues of service in meeting the needs of residents in Broken Bow,” stated Crossroads.
The thrift store is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The Mission Avenue Thrift stores play a vital role in helping to expand Crossroads emergency housing service. Buller noted they are still working to bring their homeless shelter outreach to Lexington.
Crossroads purchased the former Love in Action building in Lexington with the intention to convert it into a shelter and transitional living facility, but the more time spent in the community, the larger the homeless issue was found to be.
The former Love in Action site was turned into a thrift store to help raise funds, while Crossroads secured a purchase agreement for the former Plum Creek Care Center.
The Plum Creek Care Center facility has sat empty since October 2022, after Lantis Enterprises announced the closure.
However, the former nursing home is located just across the street from Lexington High School and the Lexington school board voted to recommend to the City of Lexington that the conditional use permit to open shelter be denied.
Buller said they are returning to their original plan of renovating their Thrift store location to a emergency shelter. Renovations should begin in 2025.
“Crossroads Mission Avenue is Central Nebraska’s Rescue Mission, with a mission to bring glory to God through the helping of people. Homelessness recovery is a long, complicated process for many of our guests, and step by step, Crossroads is there to help them in that process. The new Broken Bow Mission Avenue Thrift Store is a vital addition to our program,” Crossroads stated.
