Room in the Inn aims to enlist local faith communities to host our unsheltered neighbors during the coldest months of the year (November – March) at designated host facilities. Volunteer opportunities include bus drivers to shelters; setup and hospitality crews to set up dining and sleeping areas, serve dinner and/or breakfast, and assist with evening activities; prepare food for 25 servings; overnight shepherd; and clean-up crew. Room In The Inn also collects monetary donations and supplies year-round in the I.C. A Need box outside Marian Hall.
Crossroads of Life or Death Video
As Charles Strobel sees it… “The crisis of homelessness is the crisis of death.” For 30 years now, he has been trying to save the lives of people who live on the street. The documentary, Crossroads of Life or Death, tells the story of how Strobel, a Catholic priest, began a special ministry in Nashville, Tennessee, and became founder of Room in the Inn, a place dedicated to providing an “oasis in the desert” for the homeless.
Eight years ago Reverend Lisa Anderson from Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church started Room in the Inn in Memphis. Room in the Inn aims to enlist local faith communities to open their doors to host 12 – 15 of our unsheltered neighbors during the coldest months of the year (November – March).
Did You Know?
Every year in the United States 37,000 homeless people die mainly due to inadequate shelter during the winter. On any given day in Memphis, there can be 2,000 people or more who are homeless. Memphis is one of the few metropolitan cities that does not have any free homeless shelters. Currently, there are only 3 full-time homeless shelters; two for men and one for women. During the coldest months of the year, homeless people are sleeping outside while thousands of churches and places of worship are heated and empty.
Room in the Inn – Memphis is making a difference with over 35 churches participating.
“The rich and the poor have this in common – the Lord is the maker of them all.” Proverbs 22:2
How can I help at The Cathedral?
Do you like to cook? Visit with people? Play games? Serve meals? Transport passengers? Donate supplies? If, so there is an opportunity for you to volunteer. As a parish we transform Marian Hall into an Inn for brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness by simply opening our doors and our hearts.
What does it take?
- 6 volunteers to set up Marian Hall for the night and offer hospitality to our guests during and after dinner
- 5 volunteers to provide dinner and drinks for our guests and volunteers
- 1 bus driver to pick up our guests on Sunday the evening and 1 bus driver to return guests on Monday morning to the Carpenter’s House (212 N 2nd St)
- 2 overnight shepherds
- 5 laundry angels
- 2-3 volunteers to provide breakfast and sandwiches for our guests
- 4-5 volunteers to close the Inn in the morning