Announcing: Room In The Inn 2025-2026
What is Room in the Inn?
Since 1996, our church has opened its doors and provided warm beds and meals to unhoused neighbors during the cold winter months. We were one of the original churches hosting the Room in the Inn (RITI) program, operated by Roof Above. Our aging education building has recently encountered some fire-code challenges, so we have had to modify our approach to hosting for RITI. Here is an overview of our planning for the 2025-2026 season:
- A fresh new space for hosting! The facility challenges with our traditional RITI space are understood to be greater than originally thought, so for the upcoming RITI season, we will maintain an alternative, temporary hosting operation. Given the back-breaking work involved last year, we have found another option for 2025-226: the Missions team at Myers Park United Methodist has generously offered their new hospitality suite (photo above) on alternating Saturdays so that we can spend more time hosting humans and less time wrangling beds. Our Ministry of Justice & Outreach (MOJO) unanimously decided to accept this offer, so we will be hosting our RITI in that space on the 1st and 3rd Saturday nights each month. (We will schedule a tour for volunteers in November.)
- We want to provide as many beds as possible to our neighbors on those cold winter nights, so we are discussing other plans for the "off" weeks when others are using the MPUMC space. If you are a RITI volunteer or have volunteered before, please provide your feedback on our brief survey.
How might you get involved, you ask?
- If you are traveling or have access to travel-size toiletries, please consider collecting them for our shower caddy.
- Volunteer with our RITI hosting team! To get informed, join our Group in Realm, if you’re not already included from last year. On your phone app, search under More —> Groups —> “Room in the Inn (RITI) 2025-26 Season.” We will share more updates about our planning in that Group.
- Volunteer opportunities will be listed on SignUp Genius this year. Particular need is for van drivers and overnight hosts. Information about opportunities and a link for signing up will be provided in early November.
- Tell your friends and family! The RITI season can seem long, so let others know about the joy of serving and see if they might help share the load. You might consider serving alongside your children or grandchildren or signing up with friends from your Spiritual Growth or other church group.
- We will offer training for volunteers before the RITI season begins (November date(s) to be confirmed).
Questions? Contact Robin Buck.