10 Ways You Can Get Involved

Interested in volunteering with Room In The Inn?  You will join thousands of Middle Tennesseans who have decided to give of their time and talent to support people on the journey home.  The life you change will be your own.

Here are ten great ways to get involved.

1. Serve at your congregation’s winter shelter.

More than 6,000 Nashvillians work to shelter their homeless neighbors in 180 area congregations November 1-March 31 of each year.  Volunteers cook and serve meals, visit with guests, and serve as overnight innkeepers.  Contact your congregation to see how you can get involved.

2. Inspire recovery.

We need people in recovery from addiction to help lead 12-step meetings for our participants seeking sobriety from drugs and alcohol.  To get involved in our recovery programs, come to the next volunteer orientation.

3. Think outside the box.

We are much more than a place to sleep and eat.  Volunteers at Room In The Inn perform music in our cafe, lead our songwriters sessions, and care for people in our foot clinic.  We also have a rooftop garden that needs tending.  The idea for many of our most successful creative programs came from volunteers like you, so share your ideas with us.  Come to the next volunteer orientation to get plugged in.

4. Provide support to those in crisis.

Our activity center volunteers assist at the support desk, help operate our Fresh Start Laundry service, distribute toiletries for showers, and spend time getting to know those facing homelessness.  Come to the next volunteer orientation to get involved.

5. Educate others about homelessness.

Invite someone from the Room In The Inn community to speak to your congregation, class, or other group.  We are happy to help educate others about the experiences of the homeless community and how Room In The Inn seeks to meet its needs.  Contact our community development team to schedule a speaker.

6. Sponsor a donation drive.

Hold a special event to collect toiletries, over-the-counter medications, socks, toys for our Christmas toy store, or other items we need.  This is a great way to get your co-workers, classmates, or family involved in helping those struggling with homelessness.  Contact Room In The Inn’s community development team for more information about current needs.

7. Empower others to experience lifelong learning.

Volunteers in our Hope University adult education program offer classes on a variety of topics from job training to art to exercise.  They also help organize and operate our store, which offers participants an extra incentive to go to class.  To get involved in our innovative education program, head to the next volunteer orientation.

8. Help our participants experience a wider world.

Help host an on-site special event, a book club, or coffee house night.  Or, invite guests in our transitional programs to join you for a concert, sporting event, or other special event.  Contact our community development team if you are interested.

9. Serve up a nutritious meal.

We serve at least 1,095 meals each year at our downtown Campus.  That’s three a day.  We seek to feed not only the body, but the soul through good hospitality.  If your group is interested in providing a meal, take a look at this document for more information.

10. See hope in action.

Come take a tour of our downtown Campus and see for yourself what happens at our nationally-recognized comprehensive center for people struggling with homelessness.  Contact our community development team to schedule a tour.