Room in the Inn

Gary Tabor of Bowling Green was grateful to have a place to sleep Monday night at Crossland Community Church.

With what Ive been through, I have trouble finding the right words for it, he said. Its an incredible feeling to have people that actually welcome you.

Crossland hosted Tabor and three other guests during the first night of Bowling Greens Room in the Inn, a programin which churches offer shelter to homeless people during winter months.

Im excited that we got that opportunity to host the first night, said Leeza Glisson, executive pastor of Crossland. Were honored to do the first night.

She and her husband stayed with the guests overnight, while other volunteers helped prepare dinner for the group, including Donna Baker.

Baker and her husband volunteered for the Room in the Inn program in Charlotte, N.C., so when they moved to Bowling Green and joined Crossland, they were excited to see the program begin here.

I just saw how important it was for them to have a warm meal and a warm place to sleep, Baker said.... To be able to sit down and talk with them while eating dinner, it just reinforces how blessed we all are and how we take so much for granted. Some of their stories, it could happen to any of us.

Eleven churches in Warren County will take turns hosting up to 12 homeless guests each night through March 15, providing people with a home-cooked dinner, a mattress or cot to sleep on and breakfast in the morning.

Brita Austin,coordinator of Room in the Inn in Bowling Green, said she expected the number of guests to be small the first night.

Im very happy that we had that amount, she said. Its a brand new program, and while we did pass out fliers, we didnt know if we would have any guests the first night. They are really taking a leap of faith. It was really phenomenal that we had four. Thats beyond what we expected.

See the article here:
Room in the Inn