SMPC Serves Our Neighbors at Room in the Inn

SMPC volunteers spent Sunday night at Sardis Presbyterian Church volunteering with Room in the Inn.  Room in the Inn is a Roof Above partnership that works with local churches to provide on-site shelter and food for the unhoused during the winter months. SMPC partners with Sardis Presbyterian to provide a warm meal, fellowship, and shelter to 13 neighbors. It is an opportunity to convene with our neighbors, hear their stories and recognize that we are all God’s children.

The ministry is led by SMPC members Amy Matthews and Nancy McGuire. In addition to Amy and Nancy, this past Sunday’s volunteers included Amy’s husband, Michael, Nancy’s husband, Tim and their daughter, Lilah, Meghan Bartholomew, Donna Brown, Terry and Dave Gaines, Leslie Harper, SMPC Associate Pastor of Youth and Missions/Outreach LIndsey Odom, Ruby Robinson and many more who donated food for dinner and breakfast.

Reflecting on her role as an “Owl” (volunteers who stay overnight to make sure guests are comfortable and have what they need) on Sunday night, Terry said, “Owl volunteer instructions say that the two overnight volunteers should take turns ‘dozing,” and as an extreme rule follower, I dozed and chose to reflect on and pray for those neighbors behind closed doors whom I had not met.  I could hear one woman coughing all night long and I prayed for her, too; flu season is rampant.  What must it be like to be unhoused and have a cold or the flu?”

Room in the Inn offers neighbors so much of what we take for granted – the freedom to shower whenever, grab a snack when they’re hungry, watch TV, make a phone call, sit on cozy chairs and gather “living room style” and have a conversation.  At the “Sardis House” (the name of the facility at Sardis Presbyterian), the furnishings are so nice and each family unit has their own small bedroom with a door for the night.

There were so many examples of love on Sunday night!  Rev. Lindsey Odom, who leads our Youth Ministry, connected with two middle school girls who knew each other from being sheltered together previously. One expressed the desire to get a degree in psychology to help people.

Ruby was deemed “ministry of laundry” for her steadfast devotion to making sure guests left with clean laundry.

“I just like clean clothes!” said Ruby. “It gives me pleasure to return guests’ clothes clean and neatly folded, and I know it makes a difference in their lives.”  

She said she loves sharing the task with fellow SMPC member Leslie Harper (Nancy Maguire could hear them laughing from the laundry area!)  While both women are SMPC members, they really made a connection while serving at Room in the Inn and now their friendship has “bubbled” to the clean laundry team!

Ever the Scout, Dave brought mats and sleeping bags so volunteers could sleep more comfortably on the floor, and Donna and Meghan warmly greeted guests with a hot breakfast on Monday morning.

The Room in the Inn is truly an example of the “it takes a village” mentality. From those who donate food to those who serve time on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings, it ALL makes a difference. If you have “heard a whisper” about helping our unhoused neighbors, there is one more opportunity to serve with Room in the Inn this spring. We will be back at Sardis Presbyterian Church on March 2. We encourage you to sign up and experience the boundless love that comes from service! 

Sign up here. Read Amy Matthews’ Advent Devotional on her experience at Room in the Inn here.