LADOGA — As a young girl, Diane Cross had always wanted to do missionary work. The 1971 Ladoga High School graduate is realizing her dream through a non-profit organization known as Mountie Mission.

Cross created the Mountie Mission concept nearly two years ago to help people with such needs as jobs, clothing, food, household goods, fine-tuning housekeeping skills and “just to be a friend.”

Two rooms in Ladoga Christian Church, her laundry room and a room where her niece stayed became storage areas.

“It kept getting bigger and bigger with things stored in three places,” Cross said.

The professional housekeeper had to do something to find a home for the mission where she could store the materials in one place.

After talking to friends and acquaintances at Ladoga, Cross decided to submit a tax exempt application for her mission. The paperwork to declare Mountie Mission a non-profit organization was received in July.

Mountie Mission represents a labor of love and dedication to a Christian way of showing compassion.

Cross takes no credit for the work she has accomplished. In some cases, Cross even used her own money to help someone with a need.

“It’s all God,” Cross said Friday in Ladoga Christian Church near one of her storage areas.

The Montgomery County Community Foundation came to the rescue by providing the group with enough money — $22,510.06 — to purchase the old Ladoga Recreation Center and make necessary repairs to the building.

The former recreation center, Washington and Main streets, Ladoga, used to be the annex for Brewer Furniture. Several years ago, Cross’ parents used to operate the recreation center.

“Things are coming full circle,” Cross said, regarding her role in the building’s history that her parents were an important part of years ago.

The group wants to expand its programs to include literacy programs for adults, homework help for school children and an exercise facility.

Some of the current needs for the new location will be volunteer painters, office furniture, tables, treadmills, and hands-on activities, such as the “Cornhole” game.

The food pantry will continue to stay in Ladoga Christian Church. The food pantry is where Cross started her work as coordinator after the former coordinator moved from the community.

Cross’ outreach program is just not confined to Ladoga. She has covered a variety of locations in and outside Montgomery County. Some of the communities have included Ladoga, Roachdale, Wingate, New Ross and Waveland.

“I’ve driven a lot of miles to help people,” Cross said. “Last year, I drove 1,000 miles.”

In addition to Cross as the Mountie Mission executive director, other board of directors are Jill Bracken-Emerson, president; Kelly Etcheson, treasurer; Jenny Essex, vice president; Amy Holladay, secretary; and Sandy Webb, board member.

Cross is extremely picky when it comes to the donations she accepts, such as clothing ones. She likes to receive new clothes.

“People already have old clothes to wear,” Cross said. “I am not Goodwill and will take about anything. I want to help people with their self-esteem and get them something nice. I don’t want to be rude. I just want them to have nice stuff.”

Nothing ever goes to waste if Cross has her way. Any clothing or food items she has taken to families, and the people either do not want a particular item or do not enjoy a specific food, Cross will take it back for the next person who might be able use it.

“Food stamps don’t buy household items like toothpaste or toilet bowl cleaner,” Cross said. “I started adding those things to the food pantry.”

Even if a family is receiving food stamps and one of the family members gets a low-paying job, such as $5 an hour, Cross knows the food stamps will also be reduced and attempts to help people meet their food needs.

“We don’t have a whole lot of money to work with, we try to get them back on their feet,” Cross said.

She has also taken donations of furniture, such as beds, chairs and couches, to families who need these items.

Cross came up with the words Mountie Mission one night when she asked God for guidance to help her create a name.

“I wanted some catchy for the kids to recognized so I used the word ‘Mountie’ and ‘mission’ is for what I do,” she said.

“Mountie” is the mascot used at Southmont Jr./Sr. High School in the South Montgomery Community School Corporation.

Cross had worked at one time in the old Ladoga Christian Children’s Home and knows how kids often need a friend to help them through hard times, such as family problems and child abuse.

The dream to do missionary work is a very real part of Cross’ life.

“When I was in grade school I wanted to be a missionary,” Cross said. “I did not want to have to learn another language to be a missionary in another country. I can do my missionary work here.”