Room In The Inn

Room in the Inn Shelter Program

Emmanuel UMC has been part of this congregational network for over 10 years, providing Holy Hospitality to our unsheltered neighbors.

Emmanuel hosts 14 guests (men) every Saturday evening during the winter months of November through March providing a safe place to spend the night, a home-cooked dinner meal, a hot shower, clothing & toiletry necessities, a hot breakfast, a “to go” lunch bag, and a MATA all day bus pass.

We pick our guests up downtown on Saturday afternoon and return them downtown on Sunday morning. It takes a small “village” to transform our gym into a warm, inviting space.

If you are looking for a place to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our community and are open to experiencing Holy Moments and receiving more blessings than you give, please join us! All ages are welcome to volunteer!

Honoring Merna Keeney

In honor of Merna’s love, generosity, and long-time dedication to Emmanuel’s RITI family, we want to celebrate Merna’s unwavering commitment to Room in the Inn.

This initiative reflects Merna’s passion for Room in the Inn and supports efforts to address the challenges of homelessness in Memphis.

Merna’s dream was for Emmanuel to provide showers for our guests—a dream that became a reality in 2023, thanks to her vision and the Keeney family’s support.

Please join us in honoring Merna’s legacy and continued passion for Room in the Inn.

You can donate online by clicking GIVE HERE NOW.

If you’d like to make your gift in honor or memory of someone special, you can add the information on the giving form.

Give Here Now

Volunteer at Room in the Inn

There are many volunteer opportunities for you to help at Room in the Inn every weekend.

You can read the full list of job descriptions HERE.

Once you are familiar with all the volunteer positions, please click the dates below to sign up for available openings.

Click Dates to SignUp:

If you sign up to drive, please submit the Required Driver Information Form by Wednesday the week scheduled to drive.

Thank you so much to everyone for signing up to volunteer at Room in the Inn at Emmanuel. We appreciate you all so much.

Please contact Jackie Spear at 901-754-6548 (church), 901-292-3386 (cell), or jspear@emmanuelmemphis.org if you have any questions.

Emmanuel UMC – Volunteers enter at the back at the gym door

Emmanuel UMC at the corner of Kirby Rd and Messick Rd
2404 Kirby Rd, Memphis, 38119

Other Ways to Help:

Donation List (printable)
Our Amazon Wish List – All purchases are shipped to Emmanuel.

Kroger Community Rewards – enroll your card to benefit RITI – You will need this Organization# PL652.

Make a Monetary Donation – Under Fund choose Room in the Inn

Monetary donations are gratefully accepted!

If you have contacts in the corporate world, retail, and/or food services areas, RITI has a donation letter for soliciting donations available in the church office. Please contact Jackie at jspear@emmanuelmemphis.org for more information.

RITI In the News!

At Home Memphis & Midsouth Magazine featured Emmanuel UMC in December 2015. Click here to read the article.

Here’s another great article by the author, Ann Patchett, about the founder of Room in the Inn, Charlie Strobel.

Reasons for Room In the Inn:

– 37,000 homeless people die each year.
– Most die due to complications arising from inadequate shelter.
– Many freeze to death each winter.
– Churches are empty and warm every night.
– We’re trying to change this…