Is Crossthreadz Shutting Down? From Our Executive Director, Chris Padot: Greetings Crossthreadz friends. Supporters of children and at-risk youth. While the end of 2012 brought its level of uncertainty for our nonprofit organization, Crossthreadz, we held out hope. But it's waning. Financially speaking, we've had the most difficult year we've ever experienced in the history of Crossthreadz. As the year closed and the realization hit that end of the year, tax deductible giving time in the United States had come, and was now gone, it was a hard time of reflection for me. Crossthreadz had missed that time of receiving donations and support in the end of 2012 when it was needed most. So though in many ways we've been blessed and appreciate ALL 2012 donors, we also feel very challenged: Rebecca and I feel like we've been running a marathon in the last few years, and now with so much being so close it SEEMS that everything is crumbling, we feel we're about to collapse and have little strength to finish the race helping at-risk youth make positive life choices. Now we need God and the people around us to carry us over the finish line because we don't have the strength to do it alone. I've often heard that's how you feel right before a breakthrough. In 2013 to date, I've traveled to a Florida prison to conduct prisoner re-entry sessions and encourage the guys to make positive life choices going forward. We've responded to numerous phone calls and e-mails from youth and provided mentoring. I also spoke @ 4 sessions at a North Philadelphia School with a positive message. In another month, Crossthreadz is gearing up for its' annual Easter Egg Hunt for at-risk youth that will also include a financial training session specifically designed for at-risk youth. This is the work our operating budget supports. In conjunction with the board's plan for Crossthreadz this year, my wife and I currently donate an average of 1.5 days each week to Crossthreadz by taking time off work. Our Program Assistant Melissa volunteers her time while juggling a part-time job and 2 kids. And we've recently brought on board a Princeton Theological Seminary Student as a volunteer to partially handle the overwhelming amount of youth response! We've been seeking solutions for direction and the provision for Crossthreadz funding we desperately need. The primary donor for the last 5 years has been my wife, Rebecca, and I. Since I started doing this work in 2005, I've donated over 6 figures personally to help at-risk youth through Crossthreadz. And we've had hundreds of sponsors (businesses and individuals) who've donated items such as food for events, travel certificates, Cds/Books, toiletries or other basic needs, and toys/games for kids. Now Crossthreadz needs $9,835 to continue this work in 2013. And it's simple. If Crossthreadz doesn't raise it, we will unfortunately have to make additional pro-active decisions to turn down many requests from at-risk youth, prisoners, and abuse victims. This is the first time since 2005 we have been in this serious position and have publicly requested your financial support for Crossthreadz. As I was recently reading Matthew 17:20 reads, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." I felt myself being asked, "Do you have the faith of a mustard seed?" I replied, "Yes God, you know I do. Rebecca and I have stuck with this vision for at-risk youth for years without pay for ourselves. We've given more than we had to give. We constantly counsel the hurting children and young parents through any means, including in places hundreds of miles away. You know we have faith." He didn't need to reply but I sensed it; "Then cast out your line, have faith and keep about my work." So those of you who support Crossthreadz across the country, we reach to you; all of you. Ten dollars from one person and five hundred from another using via check or paypal will quickly add up to cover all, perhaps even more of our current needs. Were God to say, give up Crossthreadz and your work with these youth and trust me, then we would do that as well. But we will not do so without casting out our lines and trusting in His people. You have all been such a blessing. Trust me, the children, youth and young parents we are able to help thank you dearly. And if you want to see our work in action please send an e-mail to Melissa@crossthreadz.org about coming out to our Easter Egg Hunt or another future event. We at Crossthreadz have greatly enlarged our vision to include how we can inspire and equip others all around the U.S. to reach abused, hurting, and neglected children and youth. Should we close it all down with such an extensive track record of performance in service to these youth with so many product/food/travel donations and such a minimal operating budget? We never felt that it was God's will which is why we have continued funding it ourselves to date along with a small generous set of donors! To that end I request your help. $10, $100, $1000 or any amount, you can donate here. To do all that God has called us to do in the coming months requires some immediate financial attention that we just don't have. We could do a lot if everyone would do a little. To note: we have released Crossthreadz entirely. If it's God's will that we close it, then we will not stand in His way. If we don't receive the needed donations, our board will be meeting this month to discuss painful and necessary decisions. God bless you for your help and faithfulness. | 
