YUMA, Ariz.- Barbara Rochester, her name is a stable here in Yuma County.
As she is well known for all the hard work her and her staff put in everyday at Crossroads Mission, a nonprofit organization that helps individuals who find themselves at a “crossroads” in their lives, and helps them make changes that will result in better lives.
After 15 years of being involved at Crossroads Mission, she tells us why she loves the missions program.
She said, “All this job does is help people get back into society, and it meant a lot to me to help on a one to one, helping just one persona t a time…get back into the system. “
At first she says she didn’t want to work at a mission after retirement, but when she found out everything crossroads had to offer, it was full speed ahead.
“Once I learn they had a treatment center and they have GED program, we have a family shelter where children and women had a secure environment, we have a men’s shelter to get them out of their addiction” she says.
Every year Barbara helps organizes the ‘Three Days of Thanksgiving and ‘Three Days of Christmas’, events that feeds veterans, the elderly and the less fortunate, and brings in about 8 thousand people annually.
She says,“The donations are there, the support is there from all the agencies. We get referrals from adult protective services, catholic community services, for the ‘Three Days of Thanksgiving and the ‘Three Days of Christmas’”
Between all the programs and events like this, it’s no wonder why so many here in Yuma County appreciate everything Barbra and her staff do for them.
And Barbara is thankful for all the help she receives…
She says, “The community, we couldn’t have done this without everybody’s support, serving, cleaning , cooking everybody ca me in they made pies here, they brought turkeys home to clean them and everything. So it is absolutely, it’s a community support.”
renee summerour news 11