Dear Friends,
I am so happy to send you holiday greetings from Room in the Inn-Memphis after another year of Holy Hospitality.
I would like to share one beautiful way this has been experienced in the life of one little girl. As you read her story I invite you to consider a gift to Room In The Inn this holiday season. Your generosity truly changes lives each day.
During her pregnancy 7 years ago a young single woman came to our Congregational Shelter program. She went to dozens of congregations and felt loved. When her sweet Briella was born she left the hospital and returned to the place she felt safe, Room in the Inn. They both received shelter, essential needs, and a sense of family.
With support and encouragement her mother gained employment and eventually housing. It was not easy and the struggles eventually led to being unhoused again. She returned to Room In The Inn and the comfort was familiar. Briella was loved as a toddler by so many of our volunteers and staff. In her mind, we were her family.
Because of needs like those of this family, our Family Inn program was opened. Briella and her mother came to stay in their own room with privacy, meals, and a support system and advocacy that resulted in re-housing for them again. Because of this support even when things got hard, they were not alone.
This year Briella attended our summer CITI Camp for school-aged children who are current or former guests. She made friends, played games, read books with tutors, and enjoyed art and music. She learned about plants at the botanic gardens, animals at the zoo, nature at Shelby Forest, and swimming at the end of the summer party.
As a thriving 1st grader it is no surprise that she is sharing her own brand of holy hospitality at her school and receiving good citizenship awards. You can see below her proud smile.
So many single parents, struggling families, beautiful children, and medically fragile individuals trust Room In The Inn. As the needs in our community increase, we must persevere in this work, continue to grow, and identify opportunities to serve more people. We will be there for guests who come to us for immediate emergency shelter with hope of a permanent home. We are called to this ministry, and I know you feel that call. We are so thankful for your financial support, which is essential to a lifetime of hope for the Briellas in our community.
Peace,
Reverend Lisa Anderson
Executive Director
RITI Memphis