Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month! – Terri Dulaney, Volunteer Coordinator
I have the best job! I get to spend my days planning and working alongside people who chose to share their time supporting Room In The Inn – Memphis. It makes me proud to say that we have had more than 675 volunteers share more than 842 hours on the RITI campus since January 1st. These volunteer hours are found in the form of individuals, small groups, and large groups sharing love, support and concern for neighbors. On top of that, Congregational Shelter volunteers shared over 10,000 hours of service and hospitality during the winter season!
Volunteers fill a great need within RITI.
- Cleaning and organizing might not be the most glamorous forms of volunteer work, but I can tell you how important it is to the Family Inn. Knowing that areas like the playroom, computer lab and activity room are clean and ready for the youngest guests adds to hospitality without ever being seen.
- Knowing that Recuperative Care guests look forward to journaling, exploring their creative side and playing games with volunteers creates yet another form of hospitality.
- Often when a volunteer answers a phone call, they hear the caller say, ”You’re the only one who answered my call,”- hospitality offered to those not even in the building
- Having donations sorted, organized and labeled creates a hospitable environment as staff are able to not only find items but put their hands on needed items quickly.
Offering hospitality is one of RITI’s core values,
and it happens organically within all RITI programs.
Watching volunteers take time to talk, play games and serve guests is a beautiful sight. Strangers making sure that others have what they need, greeting one another with a warm welcome, respect and simply sharing a conversation. This does not necessarily only describe a volunteer interacting with guests but often guests interacting with volunteers. I see it every day, people treating each other with dignity and respect. It doesn’t take much to see the value in every life, and I see this every day as the Volunteer Coordinator.
Thanks for all the ways you make room to serve with RITI!
Volunteer Coordinator