Meet Kelly Gough Moran of Cross-Lines Community Outreach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Gough Moran.

Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

Be patient. You will find what makes you truly happy. I grew up in a semi-rural area north of St. Louis, Missouri. My parents were both public school teachers for their entire careers. Two of my older brothers also pursued teaching in public schools. I have always, and still do, view teaching as a gratifying and noble profession. I was proud to be the daughter of excellent, kind, and gracious teachers, and I thought I was also destined to be a career-long teacher, but sometimes life surprises you! After taking a few extra years, between switching majors and a brief time in trade school, to finish my degree, I began my professional career as a High School English teacher in the Kansas City area. Fortunately, after a few years, I realized that teaching high school wasn’t quite the right fit for me, so I began looking for new opportunities. I worked in various corporate and small business sales roles and, thankfully, found greener pastures working in the social services non-profit sector. After several years of building upon my teaching experience with various positions in the corporate and non-profit world, I am happy to serve in my current position as Director of Development and Communications for Cross-Lines Community Outreach in Kansas City, KS. To say that I love my job and my community would be an understatement. Cross-Lines’ mission is very close to my heart, and the people I work with daily are truly some of the best people I’ve had the pleasure to know. And, as a resident of Wyandotte County, I feel I am making a real difference for my neighbors. Our community of supporters is steadfast, humble, and tenacious in improving the lives of the people we serve. I am so thankful to have ended up where I am, and I look forward to more personal and professional growth in the future.

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

I wouldn’t call it a smooth road, but I wouldn’t call my journey particularly arduous in the grand scheme of things. I acknowledge that I was raised with and still live with a huge amount of privilege. Let’s call it a “winding” road. I am 37 years old and have worked in seven professional industries: service/retail, education, for-profit, government contract, and non-profit sectors. I got married at 23 and divorced when I was 30. I found my forever love at 33. And I landed my dream job at 35. What has all this life experience led to? I have an incredibly diverse professional background. I have experienced and have recovered from heartbreak. I have had to open myself to new experiences and challenges. It may have taken me a long time to find a place where I am truly fulfilled and looking forward to growing personally and professionally, but I don’t regret it.

Thanks for sharing that. Please tell us more about your business.
Cross-Lines Community Outreach is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1963 by ministers and concerned community members to address the blight of poverty on our neighbors. Cross-Lines is no longer officially affiliated with any religion, but our ties to faith communities remain strong. Our core values have remained resolute over the organization’s 60+ years of growth and evolution. Poverty and the systemic discrimination that allows for it must be solved with a group effort. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their perceived status. Today, Cross-Lines provides services that assist those who are struggling and often help to avoid bigger crises.

We have two major areas of service: Hunger Relief and Housing Stabilization.

Our Hunger Relief programs operate in two ways. Our Community Kitchen serves hot breakfast and lunch, Monday-Friday, to anyone who needs a meal. Our space is bright, clean, welcoming, and safe. The kitchen also provides to-go sack lunches in the morning for people who won’t be able to make it back for lunch on our campus but still need something to get through their day.

The Community Market is a no-cost grocery store that serves Wyandotte County residents, regardless of their income level. Shoppers provide proof of their household size and receive a relative amount of points. Points are spent like cash on whatever they need for their family members. The Market stocks fresh produce, meat, dairy, frozen items, shelf-stable goods, hygiene, and household cleaning items. Operating this “market model” is an innovative way to provide our shoppers with dignity and the ability to make their own choices about sustaining their families.

Our Housing Stabilization services provide temporary rent and utility assistance to families in need in Wyandotte County to avoid eviction or falling down an endless cycle of debt. We also work with people currently unhoused or precariously housed to secure safe and affordable housing. Our Resource Navigators also work to help people who need to enroll in government benefits such as disability or social security.

I could go on and on about what sets Cross-Lines apart, but I’ll be brief. Working within a broken system, Cross-Lines services provide temporary relief and allow people a little space to work to improve their situations. They are for a mother who doesn’t know how she will feed her children this week. They are for an unhoused veteran struggling with mental health challenges. They are for a father who lost his job and is trying to get back on his feet. There are thousands of stories that could be told. Additionally, the importance of Cross-Lines volunteers cannot be understated. Our Hunger Relief programs rely heavily on volunteer labor. From serving meals in the kitchen to stocking and running the Market, our volunteers are truly the lifeblood of our operations. Finally, when you support Cross-Lines, you are helping your neighbors. You are voting with your dollar or your time. You are doing something truly good and valuable for our community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cross-lines.org
• Instagram: @crosslinescommunityoutreach
• Facebook: @crosslinesKS
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyegough/