By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — There was no argument whatsoever that Cross+Walks Community Outreach does good things in the Town of Naples.

Cross+Walks is a benefit and not a burden.

To back up that sentiment, the Naples Select Board this week waived the facility use fee of $2100 for this year.

The vote was unanimous to not charge Cross+Walks the usual fee of $85 per use for utilizing the Singer Center, which is where the group has been operating every other week on Mondays.

Cross+Walks serves not only Naples residents but also citizens of surrounding towns.

“We serve 133 Naples families on our roster . . .  We do about $150,000 to $200,000 worth of goods and services . . . We did 500 meals a week during Covid, delivered on three routes in Naples for free of charge,” according to founding member Joanna Moore.

“We are hoping the Town of Naples will support us and see that we are an asset and not a burden. We are non-profit. We raise all our own money. Sometimes, we ask the town for money,” Moore said. “To us, having a waiver would be beneficial so we don’t have to worry about that expense.”

Another board member mentioned that many senior citizens who come to the food pantry say if it weren’t for Cross+Walks, they don’t know how they would get enough food to eat.

When the agenda item came up, Naples Town Manager Jason Rogers highlighted the facts regarding the facility waiver request.

“Cross+Walks has been using the Singer Center for quite some time to provide their services to Naples residents [and people from neighboring towns]. Cross+Walks is requesting a waiver of the normal fee. Their hours of operation are about 1-1/2 hours. But there is 1-1/2 hour of set up and 1-1/2 hour of tear down associated with the operation,” Rogers said.

“The rough math: $85 per use times 24 uses a year. They provide services twice a month. The total is [approximately] $2,100 dollars a year. I’ve submitted an application for all of 2025,” he said.

The Singer Center is not Cross+Walks’ forever home. Much is being done to find an alternative building and property for its services.

Earlier in the meeting, during the town manager’s report, Rogers provided an update about Cross+Walks. Also, Moore touched upon the search for a new facility.

“Over the past couple weeks, the community has seen several social media posts from the Cross+Walks Community Outreach organization as they seek to find a permanent home here in Naples,” Town Manager Rogers said. “They have organized a building committee as well as a grant-writing and fundraising committee toward this effort.”

“It is obvious that the residents of Naples and those surrounding towns that both the facility and the services are wanted and needed,” he said. “By finding a permanent location, they will be able to expand their services to more completely fulfill their mission.”

Rogers stressed “This is private endeavor on the behalf of Cross+Walks community outreach. It is not funded by the Town of Naples. In fact, the Crosswalks organization has been very clear they want to create a facility that does not put a tax burden on the residents.”

Moore mentioned that Cross+Walks relies on the support of 55 volunteers who do this work for free.

She recalled the grant that was written to create a community garden behind the town hall. She recalled using the former town gym to hold fundraisers for people in need, whether they lost their home to a fire or a family member needed an expensive medical procedure.

She hoped Cross+Walks would secure a new space for such activities again. 

“We plan on trying to raise funds in the community to offer a place of community so people can use our building free of charge. That’s the community way, the community spirit,” Moore said.