Locals attend 2026 County Lovin' / Country Lovin' Hoedown fundraiser at Pivot Point

Crossroads Mission drew a crowd to the Pivot Point Conference Center Saturday for the 2026 Country Lovin' Hoedown - also reported as the County Lovin’ Hoedown - a community fundraiser featuring live music, food, dancing, a raffle and a live auction. The event ran from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., offering prizes such as two 4K 65-inch TVs, a PlayStation 5 and a kayak.

The hoedown served as a public push to fund the Center of Hope, Crossroads Mission’s shelter and services project. Cesar Acosta, Treatment Director for Crossroads Mission, said the campaign has raised $2.7 million so far and that organizers hope to reach a $4 million target so they can break ground on the center this year. Acosta framed the project as a direct response to local need, saying, "Wherever you drive, especially off the freeways, I've been noticing recently that, even at the turn signals, there's people there. They need a place to stay...One of the goals is for them, if we have this facility, they can come in and they can stay with us and we could start providing services to get them back into housing."

The daytime event combined family-friendly entertainment with traditional fundraising tools. Auction and raffle items were paired with food and live performances that organizers described as "rootin' tootin' music," reflecting the community-oriented, country-themed atmosphere. As an annual gathering, the hoedown also functions as a visibility campaign for Crossroads Mission’s broader work on homelessness prevention and recovery services.

For Yuma County residents, the fundraiser underscores the local scale of housing challenges and the reliance on nonprofit-led capital campaigns to expand emergency shelter and wraparound services. The $2.7 million raised to date represents private and philanthropic momentum, while the $4 million goal sets a clear benchmark for when construction could begin. If Crossroads Mission reaches its target and breaks ground, the center would change how the county responds to people living near roadways and intersections by offering centralized shelter and pathways back into housing.

Civic leaders, service providers and donors will be watching the Center of Hope campaign’s next steps. Progress toward the fundraising goal will determine whether construction moves forward this year and how county officials and community partners coordinate on zoning, service referrals and long-term housing solutions. For residents who attended or want to support the campaign, Crossroads Mission remains the local connector for donations, volunteer opportunities and updates as the project advances.