We Love Volunteers! A note from our Volunteer Coordinator and highlights from April’s INN SIGHT newsletter.

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we intend to spend all month celebrating the volunteers who serve in a variety of ways with RITI Memphis!

My name is James Reed, and I have had the honor and privilege of being the Volunteer Coordinator for RITI the last 16 months. Coming from a 15 year career at a debt collection law firm here in town, this has been such an awe inspiring and humbling transition for me!

Other than volunteering with RITI in the past, I came into the role not sure what to expect. It’s been a fulfilling journey where I have learned immensely over the course of my time here. I just love people, so getting to interact and be with them everyday is my dream job. There is no better place to meet and be with people from all walks of life than Room in the Inn.

I am constantly amazed at the amount of volunteers and hours given through RITI, even though I am the one entering in and keeping up with the data! We could never do the things we do without each and every volunteer who walks through these doors. YOU are the heartbeat of RITI, and we can never thank you enough.

I am lucky that you all let me be a small part of your lives!

James Reed

Volunteer Coordinator

——–

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

In Loving Memory of Lorraine Rumer

Serving the homeless is where my mother, Lorraine Rumer, was most at home. Volunteering with Room in the Inn through Society of St. Vincent DePaul’s Ozanam Center and at RITI’s main campus was pure joy for Lorraine. She embraced the gift of fellowshipping—encountering God through serving the poor and disadvantaged. She felt so privileged to keep company with the guests of each facility. Each encounter was an experience in love. Lorraine loved each and every guest in the present moment—wherever they were in their struggle of life. -Ron Robinson

“Never forget, my children, that the poor are our masters. That is why we should love them and serve them with utter respect, and do what they bid us.” – Saint Vincent de Paul

“We cannot better assure our eternal happiness than by living and dying in the service of the poor…” – Saint Vincent de Paul

WINTER SEASON WRAP-UP

RITI’s 2021-22 Congregational Winter Shelter Season was small but mighty! Due to Covid, we operated at half-capacity. Together we shared #lightloveshelter with 127 individuals experiencing homelessness in Memphis, including 10 children.

That’s 1,620 safe, warm beds on cold winter nights. Those 20 host congregations served over 10,405 volunteer hours to make it happen. THANK YOU to each and every volunteer who contributed.

We begin again November 1, and we want YOU to be there with us. The “Inn Crowd” includes 2 faiths, 15 denominations, and other nonprofits. Have a building that sits warm and empty on winter nights and a dedicated group of people open to sharing life-saving shelter? We can help you be ready to do just that by November 1! 

INN BLOOM: A Celebration of New Beginnings

April marks ONE YEAR since the first guests moved into our new home. RITI has operated 24 hours a day since then, and in that time 102 individuals have moved into permanent housing. This month RITI will host a private event for our guests celebrating all that has been accomplished this year with those who have moved into our Housing Stabilization program and those who are still taking their next steps toward permanent housing.

REV. JESSE JACKSON VISITS RITI

April 4th, RITI received a visit from Civil Rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson, who came with CME Bishop Williamson to see the daily work Room in the Inn – Memphis is doing to share hospitality and healing in the former Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital. During the visit Rev. Jackson met with RITI staff and guests and shared words of encouragement and hope.