12/03/2025
One of our best programs under HCJC 🥰
Jefferson City Room at the Inn is now open and always appreciates volunteers: https://heyor.ca/YNHOMr
From the News Tribune:
"With snow flurries and cold temperatures Monday, volunteers at Jefferson City Room at the Inn were ready for a full house on opening night.
The overnight shelter, which has enough cots for 20 guests, opened its doors at 5:30 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Jefferson City.
As a low-barrier shelter, the facility is committed to reducing obstacles for those seeking help. Unhoused adults 18 and older are welcome, and no ID or background check is required -- guests simply share their name, making support available to individuals who might otherwise go without.
The shelter relies on 11 volunteers each night to cover a range of shifts, including overnight hours. For opening week, all volunteer positions are filled, thankfully, said Sarah Hamilton, chair of JCRATI.
The shelter's leadership team was busy Sunday finishing up last minute cleaning and sorting to get ready for guests, Hamilton said.
Gearing up for opening day, community members stepped up quickly, purchasing every item on the shelter's initial Amazon wish list -- from toilet paper to cleaning supplies, Hamilton said.
"We're getting complaints," Hamilton chuckled. "(They say), 'I went to your Amazon wish list and it was empty. There was nothing on it.' People are very generous, and once we put it out that we need stuff, it doesn't take long for that to empty."
So the biggest need now is continued volunteers for the season, which lasts through mid-March, weather and volunteer-dependent, Hamilton said. Volunteers can sign up for shifts here: https://heyor.ca/0vjLah.
Ron Hansen, who has volunteered every year since JCRATI opened in 2022, typically comes during the first shift of the night to check guests in and take guests' bags from them and put them in the shelter's new overnight storage closet. If he arrives early enough, sometimes he'll also help make sure bedding is ready to provide to guests.
As he's volunteered, he's gotten to know some of the guests better, so sometimes in the off-season, when he sees one of them walking downtown or resting at the library, he'll say hi and call them by name.
"They look up like, 'Huh? Somebody knows me and remembers me?'" he said. "I think that's important to be able to recognize people."
Carol Scott has also volunteered since the shelter first opened its doors. As a volunteer, she often helps check guests in when they first arrive, do laundry, answer questions and visit with guests to make connections.
"There's been times when somebody will just need somebody to talk to and to just be able to listen," Scott said. "We don't pry into, 'How did you get here?' And we don't preach at them. Sometimes, just listening."
Volunteering can be a good chance to learn about those who find themselves unhoused for a variety of reasons, Scott said.
Scott recalled one particular story where she learned a guest had gotten injured at his job and was let go. Because of this, he wasn't able to pay his rent, so he ended up having to live on the street.
"That's just not right," she said. "Room at the Inn is necessary and it's just the right thing to do. I wish more people would step up and become part of it because it just takes so many people."
If people are on the fence about volunteering, folks are encouraged to "shadow" volunteers during a shift to get an idea of what it's like. Folks interested in shadowing a volunteer are asked to email [email protected] to confirm there is a spot open for a shadow on a specific day.
Volunteering with a group to serve a meal is another good way to volunteer and get your feet wet, Hamilton said.
As JCRATI has more needs or news, Hamilton said they'll share updates on the shelter's page."
