New Facility Breaks Ground: More “Room At The Inn”
(CHARLOTTE, N.C – June 2011) Room At The Inn, a safe haven and source of hope for pregnant mothers and their children since 1994, recently broke ground on the first college-based maternity and after-care residential facility of its kind in the nation. The project will be built on four acres of land donated by the Benedictine Monks of Belmont Abbey and located adjacent to Belmont Abbey and the campus of Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C.
The 10,000-square-foot home will provide single pregnant college women the option of continuing their education while having their babies in a caring and supportive environment before, during and after their pregnancy. The new facility will have two residential wings – one for maternity and one for after-care – that will be home to 15 mothers, 15 infants and 8 toddlers for up to two years. Each mother will have a private bedroom and bathroom and share the kitchen, dining room and laundry room with other residents. Administrative and counseling offices and quarters for residential managers also will be on site.
Room At The Inn began a capital campaign in 2008 to raise the $3 million estimated to complete the new facility and sustain programs and services when it opens. Thanks to the generous donations of countless individuals and organizations, including the Knights of Columbus of North Carolina, $2.2 million has been raised and fundraising continues.
“Room At The Inn can give these young women the opportunity to continue their educations, have their babies, make a positive impact on society and fulfill their hopes and dreams.” said Room At The Inn Executive Director Jeannie Wray.
Expectant mothers interested in Room At The Inn must go through several months of counseling before being accepted into the free program, which Wray describes as “fairly stringent” and filled with classes and counseling to prepare young mothers with the skills they need to be successful in life. Participants must adhere to a curfew, sign in and sign out, enroll in financial planning and scripture study, among others things.
“Many young women in college facing unexpected pregnancies believe they have to give up everything to keep their babies – but they don’t,” adds Wray.
The building was designed by the architectural firm, Narmour Wright and will be constructed by Edifice Inc. General Contractors. “We consider ourselves partners in expanding the ministries of Room At The Inn and will work to deliver a quality facility that will benefit families for many years,” says Bryan Knupp, Senior Vice President for Edifice.
About Room At The Inn
Room At The Inn, Inc. is a Catholic, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation based in Charlotte, N.C. and incorporated by the Secretary of State in 1984. Respecting and affirming life from the moment of conception, Room At The Inn is a safe haven and source of hope for single pregnant mothers and their children. Invoking a Christ-centered approach inspired by the examples of Mary and Joseph, Room At The Inn helps young families move toward a new life of hopeful, independent and healthy living and educates the broader community on the importance of fostering a culture of life. Room At The Inn serves pregnant women of all economic, social, racial and ethnic backgrounds. The men and women on the Campaign Cabinet and the Advisory Board assisting the cabinet reflect greater Charlotte’s racial, ethnic, business, professional and religious diversity.