Since 1996, the Urban Ministry Center has been working with congregations of many faiths, as well as with colleges, to open their facilities one night a week to provide shelter and food for the homeless during the winter months. Each site offers a warm, safe place to sleep and serves two meals (dinner and breakfast) and returns guests to the Urban Ministry Center the following morning.
Last year over 500 Sardis volunteers worked with the Sardis RITI program.
Volunteer Opportunities with Room In The Inn
Greeters: Shift is 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Help make beds, set up the dining room, assist with the dinner preparation, and eat dinner with our guests.
Meal Preparers: Serve on a meal team that prepares the evening meal, the next day’s breakfast, and the bag lunches. Meals are delivered to the church by 5:30 p.m. You may be asked to stay and help serve the evening meal.
Social Committee: Shift is 7:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. You will have the opportunity to visit with our guests, play cards, watch movies and provide Christian fellowship.
Owls: Shift is 10:30 p.m. - 4:45 a.m. You will spend the night at the church. Two volunteers serve as Owls. You can trade off taking naps.
Roosters: Shift is 4:45 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. Assist with setting up and serving the breakfast, waking the guests, and collecting bed linens.
Drivers: Using the church minibus, drivers pick up our guests at the Urban Ministry at 5:45 p.m. and bring them to Sardis. In the morning, by 6:00 a.m. they drive them to the Uptown Transit Center.
Leaders: Please share your leadership skills and talents with this outreach ministry. We have openings for two team captains, two meal coordinators, a volunteer to deliver the linens to the laundry service and an assistant driver coordinator. Contact Dave Titus at 704-844-9575 for more information.