From left, Northwest Navigators Treasure McDougal and daughter Chloe, Nancy Walden, facing away, Sherri Herman, Shaun Martin and Rhonda Cathey prepare the meal with direction from Sharon Collins, in yellow, volunteer coordinator for Chattanooga Room in the Inn. Click to enlarge.
Northwest Navigators spent an evening cooking for and visiting with residents of Chattanooga Room in the Inn, a three to nine month residential program dedicated to helping homeless women and children.
Sherri Herman, assistant manager of Northwest Georgia Bank’s Hamilton Place branch and a board member of Chattanooga Room in the Inn, captained a volunteer team of Northwest Navigators for Mentor Night. The evening included a home-cooked meal prepared by Navigators, who stayed for dinner and played games with residents.
Other Navigators were Cheryl Martin, Ashley Smith, Shaun Martin, Chase Ballinger, Nancy Walden, Michael Sabo, Rhonda Cathey and son Dakota, Treasure McDougal and daughter Chloe, and Hanan Elbeitam.
“Northwest Navigators are Northwest Georgia Bank employees dedicated to improving Chattanooga and north Georgia communities through volunteerism, donating thousands of community service hours annually to dozens of area non-profits and often raising money along the way.
So far this year, Northwest Navigators have raised $6,551 for the American Cancer Society, almost $2,000 for T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital, about $3,200 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and $800 for Special Olympians at Boynton Elementary School, among other fundraising activities.
A local non-profit begun in 1988, Chattanooga Room in the Inn helps empower homeless women and children to become self-sufficient. Services provided at CRITI are free of charge and include transitional housing, three meals a day, access to affordable or free health care, life skills training, parenting classes, mentoring, assistance with finding affordable housing, and case management services.
The 24 hour-a-day program allows women and their children to find stability, thereby increasing opportunities for independence once they leave the program. Since its inception, Chattanooga Room in the Inn has helped more than 3,000 homeless women and children regain their independence.
Chattanooga Room in the Inn has several opportunities for volunteers. For more information, visit www.chattanoogaroomintheinn.com.
Sharon Collins, volunteer coordinator for Chattanooga Room in the Inn, with, from left, Northwest Navigators Stan Guess, Shaun Martin, Cheryl Martin, Hanan Elbeitam, Treasure McDougal, Ashley Smith, Rhonda Cathey, Sherri Herman, Chase Ballinger and Nancy Walden. Click to enlarge.