Room in the Inn 2026

Bethlehem has participated in Room in the Inn for more than 35 years. From the beginning of November until the end of March, our church opens its gym to host 10 men each Saturday evening. Guests receive dinner on Saturday night, breakfast Sunday morning and a sack lunch to take with them when they leave the church on Sunday morning. Racks of clothing are set out for guests to take at no cost. Guests also have access to a washer and dryer, showers and a warm place to sleep. In addition, there is time for conversation and fellowship. All guests must attend an orientation led by Room in the Inn staff to participate in the program. We will begin welcoming guests this year on November 7. Volunteers are needed each week to make the program possible. Volunteers are needed for the following:

Drivers

Two male drivers (over the age of 25) are needed to drive the church vans each Saturday night to pick up our guests from the Room in the Inn Campus in downtown Nashville at 705 Drexel Street. Drivers should be prepared to leave Bethlehem by 5:30 p.m. The van keys will be on a hook on the wall in the gym kitchen. Upon arriving at the Room in the Inn campus, drivers pull in the first entrance and push the call box and a staff member will let drivers in. Drivers are to pull forward as far as possible, remain in the van and guests will be escorted to the van. After returning to church, van keys should be returned to the gym kitchen.

On Sunday morning, two male drivers are needed to drive our guests back to the Room in the Campus. Drivers should be ready to leave church by 6:00 a.m. Upon returning to church, the vans should be parked in the south parking lot and keys placed on the hook in the gym kitchen. Drivers must be over the age of 25.

Overnight Hosts

Two men (over 18) are needed each week to spend the night in the church gym with our guests. Volunteers are provided with a cot but need to bring their own sleeping bag or blanket and a pillow. Overnight hosts should arrive at the gym by 5:30 p.m. to set up cots and put sheets, pillows and toiletry bags on beds. Hosts are responsible for taking clothes racks out of RITI closet and setting up a long table for books, shoes, shorts and other items. Hosts also set up four long tables and 16 chairs for dinner close to the kitchen area and place towels outside the men’s restrooms for showers. When guests arrive between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m., hosts are to welcome them, direct them to the showers and laundry facilities and have dinner with them. Showers are in both gym restrooms. The shower in the women’s restroom should not be used until all females assisting with dinner have left. Washer and dryer are outside through the door by the restrooms. Guests are welcome to watch the TV in the gym lobby. Smoking is only allowed outside. Lights are out at 10:00 p.m. Guests need to be awakened by 5:00 a.m. on Sunday. Overnight hosts are responsible for making coffee and setting out breakfast provided by volunteers. Guests leave the church at 6:00 a.m. Overnight hosts are responsible for putting away cots and placing used towels and sheets in rolling canvas bags (labeled Laundry) and putting the bags in the restroom hallway.

Saturday Night Dinner

Volunteers are needed to provide dinner and drinks for 12 men (ten overnight guests and two overnight hosts) plus those who are serving dinner. The meal should be ready to serve by 7:00 p.m. This is a great project to do as a family, Sunday School class or other small group. Those serving are encouraged to sit and have dinner with our guests. Dinner is typically set up on the counter in the gym kitchen buffet style with church members serving our guests. Drinks and desserts are usually set up on a table along the wall by the kitchen and are self-serve. Volunteers are also responsible for washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen.

Breakfast on Sunday Morning

A volunteer is needed to provide breakfast for 12 men on Sunday morning. The food should be delivered to the gym kitchen after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Since our guests leave Sunday morning by 6:00, cereal, donuts, pastries and frozen breakfast sandwiches that can be warmed in the microwave are good options. Our guests also enjoy juice and milk. Coffee is provided by the church.

Sack Lunches

A volunteer is needed to prepare and deliver 10 sack lunches to the gym kitchen after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Lunches should be placed in the gym kitchen fridge (large stainless steel fridge in area by dishwasher, not the black Parent’s Day Out fridge). Sample lunch could include a sandwich, chips, soft fruit, dessert and drink all in a disposable bag.

Laundry

A person is needed to pick up laundry in the restroom hallway in the gym Sunday after church. Clean laundry should be returned to the gym by the following Saturday. Laundry includes 10 towels, 10 wash cloths, 10 flat sheets and 10 pillow cases.

Contact Information

There is a passage that reminds us of who we serve at Room in the Inn. According to author, Sharon Brous of “The Amen Effect,” there is a nineteenth century Rabbinic Text that declares every person is accompanied, at all times, by a procession of angels crying out “Make way for an image of the Holy One is approaching!” How do we keep missing all these angels, with the trumpets and proclamations desperate to rouse us to the dignity of every human being?

Brous says “Our hardest and holiest work is not to look away.”

Come join the Room in the Inn team! We thank you for considering to participate in this important ministry. If you have any questions, please contact Don Fagan (donfagan@bellsouth.net or 615-400-1254) or Vicki Wolczyk (vicki.wol@comcast.net or 615-397-8015)