Since 1996, the Urban Ministry Center (of Charlotte) has been working with congregations of many faiths and 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 the following morning. The program is a unique way for people of faith to become directly involved with people who are homeless. The simple goal is to keep homeless people from freezing on cold winter nights. A greater goal is to provide a loving relationship to the homeless, at least for a night. RITI is a way to bring alive the Biblical admonition to "Love Thy Neighbor." In fact, we refer to the people we serve as our NEIGHBORS. The program begins each year on December 1 and continues daily through March 31. The Room in the Inn program began with 20 shelter sites. During the 2002-2003 year, it grew to include over 85 congregations and colleges providing more than 13,000 beds for over 900 neighbors and involving greater than 5,000 volunteers. Statistics are incomplete for this year but there were 3392 beds filled in February and to date this year, 854 different neighbors have been placed in 10224 beds.) We are aware of no other homeless service program in our community that enlists so many volunteers.

Holy Covenant has participated in Room in the Inn since 2002. We host on a monthly basis, housing eight neighbors per night. Volunteers are needed for meal preparation (dinner, breakfast and a sack lunch), room set-up and cleanup, transportation and overnight hosting with the neighbors.

To learn more or get involved, speak to Alice Phelan or send an email to the church office.