For The Lou | The Crossing

Serve like Jesus. Know your neighbor. Cross the divide. Commit. This is what it means to be ForTheLou.

Want to do that alongside others from The Crossing? Great! Want to do it on your own time? Awesome! Looking to serve in a specific way or at a special place? Super!

No matter what you are looking for, we are happy to help you find your way to commit to being ForTheLou throughout the year. Explore ideas below. Join in or be inspired to DIY! As you do so, we encourage you to think critically about the information being presented on external websites and through other resources below.

Prefer to see a calendar of scheduled opportunities where you can jump in with other Crossing folks? CLICK HERE.

Operation Shower

Looking for a fun and rewarding opportunity? You've found it! Operation Shower's mission is to host joyous baby showers for military families to ease the stresses of deployment and separation. Contact Maureen to learn more.

Contact Maureen

Place Flags at Jefferson Barracks

Honor Veterans by placing flags by the headstones at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery on May 25th.

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101 Ways to be a Good Neighbor

Check out this list of 101 ways to be a good neighbor in your own neighborhood!

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Become a Reading Champion

Join the team! Encourage students at one of our partner elementary schools by showing up weekly to teach simple reading skills during the 24-25 school year. Must be 18+. No experience necessary!

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Boys Hope Girls Hope

Boys Hope Girls Hope has many serving opportunities including: providing dinner for the scholars, academic mentors, college care packages, carpool drivers, and interior and exterior house projects to name a few!

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Bridge Bread Bakery

Contribute to the work Bridge Bread is doing to support our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Purchase a treat or volunteer your time in this historical Cherokee Street bakery!

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Civil Rights Virtual Exhibit

St. Louis has played a significant role in our country's civil rights movement. Take a virtual tour of one of the most popular exhibits at the Missouri History Museum and learn all about it. Link available when you click I'm in.

I'm In!

COMMIT

Don't forget that being ForTheLou is a heart posture for everyday life. Commit to going out of your way to encourage your neighbors and make an effort to find a way to serve regularly. If you need help finding a place to plug in, contact Outreach at the link below.

Contact Outreach

Crisis Nusery

Play with kids, clean, and organize at Crisis Nursery during our regular serve days. NOTE: 14+ age requirement

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DIY Meal Kit

Donate non-perishable items that, together, make a whole meal for families at The Care Service. Instructions and additional details available via link when you click I'm in.

I'm In!

Donate Blood

What better way to be ForTheLou than by saving a life by donating blood with the Red Cross. Click below to find a time and location that works best for you.

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Explore A Different Campus

Try a different campus than the one you regularly attend services at and maybe even stop in a local restaurant while you are there.

I'm In!

Explore a Farmer's Market in Another Area

Venture out and visit a farmer's market in a different area of town. Each farmer's market pulls from a unique pool of vendors and artisans. So try something new!

I'm In!

Good Neighbor Initiative

Good Neighbor Initiative Details: Commit for one year to befriend a refugee family

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Helping Hand Me Downs

Sort clothing and deliver donations during our regular monthly serve days.

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Jump-in Later

Not able to serve right now, but want to join in? Unsure of where to start? Fill out the form and an Outreach staff member will connect with you.

Jump-In Later!

Meal Kits for Circle of Concern

Grab your family and friends to purchase supplies, make a meal kit, and deliver to Circle of Concern. Get meal kit and delivery info when you click I'm in.

I'm In!

Oasis Baby Showers

Oasis International welcomes refugees to St. Louis with the goal of making them feel loved and at home. One way they do this is by showering moms-to-be! Grab a group of friends and help a refugee mom get prepared for her little bundle. Reach out to Leslie at Oasis for more information:

Contact Leslie

Oasis International

Serve our refugee neighbors through our regular Oasis Serve Days.

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Operation Food Search

Grab a friend and pick a shift to sort and organize food donations that serve local pantries, schools, and more.

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Outfit Kits

Make an Outfit Kit for kids at the St. Charles Crisis Nursery. See additional details when you click I'm in.

I'm In!

Outreach Partner Needs Portal

A place where you can peruse and purchase items that will meet ongoing needs of our Outreach partners.

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Parkway Pantry

Serve with Parkway Pantry at our regular monthly distribution serve days. NOTE: must be 14+

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R3 Development

Rehab buildings in East St. Louis with R3 Development during our monthly serve days. NOTE: must be 15+.

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Restore St. Charles

Restore and repair homes in St. Charles County at our monthly serve days. NOTE: must be 16+.

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St. Louis Area Food Bank

The St. Louis Area Food Bank has opportunities to serve at the Repackaging Center or at Food Distributions that occur in 26 counties in the bi-state region. Want to serve from home? They even have an opportunity to write notes that go to seniors who receive meals.

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Team Activities for Special Kids

See how you can befriend special kids and have a lot of fun with TASK. Be a buddy during a social club or one of the amazing day camps they have this summer. Volunteers must be 14+.

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The Care Service

Sort food with a team at The Care Service during our regular serve days.

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The Freedom School

Tutor or read to students, be a lunch room monitor, and more options to serve with The Freedom School. If you volunteer, let them know that you heard about the opportunity from The Crossing.

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The Sharing Shed

Shop with clients or clean and organize donations at our monthly serve days.

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The Ville Workday

Clean, organize, or work on projects in The Ville neighborhood during our monthly Serve Days.

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Veterans Community Project

From organizing to construction, serve veterans by jumping in with Veteran’s Community Project.

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Visit Locally Owned Restaurants

Expand your palate and enjoy new foods from locally owned restaurants.

I'm In!

Visit the Blues Museum

Learn about the rich musical history of St Louis through interactive exhibits and artifacts at the National Blues Museum on Washington Avenue.

I'm In!

Visit the MO Civil War Museum

Learn about our unique roll in history as the Missouri Civil War Museum brings local stories to life from the Missouri Compromise and the Dred Scott decision to over 1,000 battles fought in our state.

I'm In!

Visit the Museum at The Arch

Set aside an hour or more to browse the free world-class museum at The Gateway Arch National Park. Click I'm in for additional details.

I'm In!