Anne Pigg, The Force behind Room in the Inn
Holy Covenant’s gathering room has changed since the worship service this morning. Furniture has been moved aside to accommodate 8 mattresses carefully made into temporary beds for our soon-arriving guests. A large table has been prepared, and helpers scurry back and forth filling the buffet with delicious hot food.
Anne Pigg oversees the gathering, checking her list as each person fills his or her designated role. The van arrives and our special guests, our neighbors, disembark and enter the gathering room nervously. Who are our visitors? Four men and four women from the Urban Ministry Center, all homeless.
During the winter months, many churches in the Charlotte area participate in Room in the Inn, providing the homeless with shelter for 1 night and 3 meals. Holy Covenant participates one night of each month during the winter. Anne Pigg has spearheaded this effort for three years since she joined Holy Covenant.
“Before we married, I knew my ex-husband had been homeless at one time,” Anne explained. “Later he took me around Los Angeles and showed me some of the places he had slept. It was a real eye-opener for me.”
Anne and our volunteers share the meal with our neighbors, and each one shares something about themselves. One woman is a roofer; another was formerly an LPN with Hospice. One of the men has suffered two strokes. All appreciate the kindness they are shown here at Holy Covenant.
Anne begins nearly a month before our scheduled hosting date; excellent organization skills, delegation, and composure are skills which she brings to the monumental task, but it is a heart for people that motivates her. On this date, we have two volunteers from Piedmont Universalist Unitarian Church assisting us, to learn about the program and hopefully expand it to their church. Tonight, after serving the meal and overseeing the group, Anne and another church member will spend the night at the church, arising early to prepare breakfast for the guests and cleaning the areas all before 8:00 am.
The gathering room is quiet now; most of our visitors are lying down after showers preparing for sleep. In a classroom, two are enjoying a DVD on our television. Anne sits down with her chart, checking who is coming with breakfast in the morning and who will transport our guests back to the Urban Ministry Center.
Anne paused when asked what she needs for the program. “A church van would be wonderful, but I guess that will just be on my dream list. What I need most is a converter box and an antenna so our guests can watch some football.” (The converter box and antenna have been provided since this story first appeared.)
You, too, can participate in this wonderful endeavor; there are two more dates remaining, February 20 and March 20. Anne has need of volunteers to bring covered dishes, to drive, to assist with the meal and cleanup. She can tell you more about the program and would be happy to add your name to her Masterplan chart. You may email Anne at anne@exiteliteproperties.com. You can also read more about the entire Charlotte Room In the Inn program at the website www.roomintheinn.com.
