Crossroads Rescue Mission Executive Office Supervisor Martha Badger said recently their organization never wants anyone to be alone on Thanksgiving, or any holiday, for that matter.

To that end, and for the past 20 years, she said Crossroads Rescue Mission (CRM) has been in existence since 2001 and feeding Thanksgiving Dinner to many because, "We never want a person to be alone on Thanksgiving. We will be your family and your friend."

Badger's job consists of "...whereever and whatever" she's needed for. "I manage the office and handle all events from fund-raising to hosting the events."

Rocky Shelton is CRM's founder and Executive Director and Deborah Shelton is Executive Director of the Women's Mission. Others rounding out the organization, said Badger, are: Becky Estes (financial secretary); Dennis Blanton (head supervisor over the men's division); Michael and Brandy Lovelace (head supervisor of the women's division); Jamie Edwards (chief mechanic); Kyle Smart (store manager of Crossroads Thrift store, Shelby); Nicole Parker and Hollie Mullinax (sales associates in the thrift store and the thrift store, Handfuls of Purpose in Gaffney, SC).

The group's mission is to help reach men and women with the gospel of Jesus Christ, she said, adding, "...and to instruct them in the Word of God, further their education, equip men and women with marketable skills, help with job placement, help restore broken families, and to feed the homeless."

Their burden is to help break the chains of addiction and find hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ,

The men's facility in Shelby houses up to 45 men and their Gaffney women's facility houses up to 12 women, It's free for their residents.

"We feed, clothe, and house all residents while they go through the program, which is initially a 90-day program for the first phase, but to complete the entire program requires nine months, which involves going through the six month 'Sons of God' class (the equivalent of the first year of bible college)," she said.

Food for their Thanksgiving Dinner comes from donations from churches and loving individual supporters," noted Ms. Badger. "Our friends from all churches

ast and present will drop off a cake or pie so we can have homemade desserts for this special day of Thanksgiving."

Other events they have throughout the year are, Easter (giving an Easter basket to all the children who attend, teaching them the real meaning of Easter); Jubilee (their most special event of the whole year, held the last full week of April); Bookbag Event (held in August before school starts back and held at Bethel Baptist Church in their gym); and the toy drive (held in December) for those in need.

"We start signing up on the first of December," said Badger. "They come fill out the application and we help as many as we've raised money for."

Martha said there are several ways to donate: by mail to Crossroads Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 2090, Shelby, NC, 28151, or they can bring it to the office at 206 Mount Sinai Church Rd., Shelby, NC, 28152, or www.crossroadsrescuemission.org, to donate with a credit card.

You may drop it off at one of their thrift stores - 1525 S. Lafayette St., Shelby, or 112 Wilkinsville Hwy., Gaffney, SC. Also, you can call (704) 484-8767 (main office), where someone can help with your donation.

Badger noted CRM is a 501C3 nonprofit and all of their events are supported by the money raised through their mail outs. Anyone wishing to be on our mail outs list for events may call (704) 484-8872 and give them their name and address.

Also, for those who may be homeless and ride the van or in dire need; if any coats or cold-weather items have been donated, they make sure they get those items, said Ms. Badger.