HOLDREGE — Crossroads Mission Avenue held an official ribbon cutting, in conjunction with the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce, for their latest thrift store in the community on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Crossroads Mission Avenue has been serving the homeless in Central Nebraska for 40 years, with locations in Kearney, Grand Island, and Hastings.
The Holdrege Mission Avenue Thrift Store is located at 408 E. Ave and joins the retail stores in the area to supply a local option for low-cost clothing and household goods.
All proceeds support the efforts of Crossroads Mission Avenue as they provide meals and care for the homeless in central Nebraska.
“This location also offers an opportunity for Phelps County residents to recycle their unneeded items by donating to the Thrift Store. All proceeds support the efforts of Crossroads Mission Avenue as they provide meals and care for the homeless and needy in Central Nebraska,” Crossroads states.
Crossroads Executive Director Daniel Buller said at the event, “This is an exciting day for us, it’s been an exciting time to open a store here.” He added that he has been a part of many thrift store openings in central Nebraska and said Holdrege was one of the easiest.
“The community has been super generous,” Buller said, saying that people had been eager to donate their items or to volunteer.
The store is important because the proceeds go toward the six living facilities across the area that help to serve the homeless, Buller said. He noted that one of the fastest growing demographics that Crossroads is seeing is the elderly.
In many cases, these elderly people have no access to a nursing home or are on a long waiting list. “The face of homelessness has really changed,” Buller said.
Holdrege Chamber of Commerce Board President Shannon Adam said a thrift store like Holdrege Mission Avenue can help keep the community thriving, in a way that will also contribute to those who are in need.
Buller said he is excited to expand Crossroads services into Phelps 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 Holdrege Mission Avenue Thrift. Crossroads’ expansion in the region is an effort toward homelessness prevention.”
It was noted that 1,100 people called Crossroads home for a time in 2022.
Crossroads is working to open a new location in Lexington to provide homeless services, a capital campaign is underway to raise those funds.
“Crossroads is working tirelessly to establish a new homeless shelter outreach in the City of Lexington and is very excited to have opened the two new Mission Avenue Thrift stores in Lexington and Holdrege,” per Crossroads.
“Crossroads Mission Avenue’s mission is to bring glory to God through the helping of people. Homelessness recovery is a long, complicated process for many of their guests, and step by step, Crossroads is there to help them in that process. The new Holdrege Mission Avenue Thrift Store will be a vital addition to their program,” concluded Crossroads.
