Room in the Inn Shelter Program
Room in the Inn Memphis is a network of diverse congregations that open their doors to provide food and shelter to people who are experiencing street level homelessness November – March each year. Guests are safely indoors during the brutal months of winter. 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 Sunday morning. It takes a small “village” to transform our gym into a warm, inviting space. All ages are welcome!
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!
Honoring Merna Keeney
In honor of Merna’s love, generosity, and long time dedication to Emmanuel’s RITI family, you are welcome to give in honor of her by typing her name in the “designation” box using the drop down of Room in the Inn. The purpose of this is to honor Merna’s passion for Room in the Inn and to further the cause of addressing the complex problem of homelessness in the city of Memphis. Merna’s dream was for Emmanuel to be able to provide showers for our guests. Thanks to Merna and the Keeney family, this dream was accomplished in 2023. You can make a donation through online giving on Emmanuel’s website at emmanuelmemphis.org; select Room in the Inn from the dropdown list Type Merna Keeney in the Designation Box. Please join us in honoring Merna’s legacy and continued passion for Room in the Inn. Give Now HereClick Date to Sign up to Volunteer
NOVEMBER 16 NOT AVAILABLE YET
Please contact Jackie Spear at 901-754-6548 church, 901-292-3386 cell or jspear@emmanuelmemphis.org if you have any questions.
Forms
In the News!
We are in the news? Click here for “At Home Memphis December 2015” article
Here’s a great article by the author, Ann Patchett, about the founder of Room in the Inn, Charlie Strobel.
Monetary donations are gratefully accepted!
Thank you so much to everyone for signing up to volunteer at Room in the Inn at Emmanuel. We appreciate you all so much.
Other Ways to Help:
- Donation List
- 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
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.
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…