OBX Room In The Inn closes its doors for the summer and celebrates community support with a special thank you dinner

OBX Room In The Inn, Dare County’s only organization dedicated to supporting the Outer Banks’ homeless population, has officially closed its doors for the summer. This closure marks the end of another successful season of providing food and shelter to those in need. It also highlights the need for year-round shelter and uninterrupted support for the community. To honor the dedicated people who make the vital work of the Inn’s OBX Room possible, a special thank you dinner was held last week.

The event, hosted by Pigman’s Bar-B-Que and Fresh Market, was sponsored by generous donors Chris Kelley Cimko and John Cimko. It brought together volunteers and coordinators from more than 20 participating churches and businesses, all of whom play an important role in hosting the shelter. Namely, they are responsible for finding and delivering donations of food, clothing, supplies, and any other necessities that might be needed to care for each guest. They spend a lot of time and attention hand-preparing hot family-style meals, often enjoyed together at the shelter. To brighten up the holiday season, an anonymous volunteer even chose to take all 18 guests out for a three-course dinner at Blue Moon Beach Grill.

“It’s been an incredible 15 years,” said new board chairman Bob Peele. “I remember loading mattresses into trucks as we went from church to church every week. We are fortunate to now have a home for our shelter, which saves us from having to do this, and I am grateful to everyone who has made this process better and easier – not just for our volunteers, but also for the people we serve. .”

During the dinner, OBX Room in the Inn proudly announced the recipients of the first-ever Innkeeper of the Year awards: Brannon Godfrey and Suzie Trainor. These individuals were recognized for their exceptional service and commitment to the shelter’s mission. Additionally, the event celebrated the Lifetime Innkeeper Awards, honoring those who have demonstrated long-standing dedication to the shelter over the years. The awards were presented to Mike Kelly, for his continued support of fundraising throughout the annual event Takeaway lunchand Jim Rose for the continued access to housing space that transformed the organization.

“At the end of the season, all but a few of the guests found stable work and housing…I can’t tell you how much it pained me to close for the summer again this year in due to lack of funding,” said Shari’s executive director. Fiveash, who worked hard with his team to plan a year-round shelter. “This is the most urgent need we face.”

The OBX Room at the Inn Winter Shelter will reopen on November 1st. For more information on how you can get involved, please email Shari Fiveash at [email protected].