It’s called No Room at the Inn, but they made plenty of room at Church of the Redeemer, Mechanicsville, for an annual fundraising event to combat homelessness. Hundreds of nativity sets from around the world were displayed, a reminder that there was once no room for the Holy Family.
Money raised from the three-day event helps those experiencing housing struggles in the Richmond area, as well as in Haiti. Since its inaugural event, No Room at the Inn has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for these causes.
The event kicked off Friday, Dec. 1, with its annual gala. Food, fun and fellowship filled the hall while attendees perused the nativity sets and bid on auction items donated by parishioners, which included everything from artwork to gift cards to vacations. Throughout the weekend, 237 nativity sets that were thoughtfully curated by a team of volunteers were on display.
Beginning in 2008, No Room at the Inn was the brainchild of Nancy Malone, a Church of the Redeemer parishioner. She had read of a similar event in California and the idea stuck with her.
When the church was looking for ways to raise money to build homes in Haiti, Malone remembered the California event, and the rest is history. She spearheaded the event for 14 years before sadly passing in 2022. Still, her labor of love lives on.
“Once Nancy received the inspiration for the No Room at the Inn event, she was tirelessly committed to ensuring that the hearts of all who participated in any way would be inspired by the truth that Mary’s ‘yes’ to God was answered by God’s forever ‘yes’ to all mankind by the gift of Jesus,” explained Nancy’s husband, Deacon Chris Malone.
“Nancy was always confident that God’s hand was in this work and she trusted God, all her collaborators on the organizing committee, and countless volunteers to provide all that was needed for success each year,” he added.
The Malones made room in their home and in their hearts for those who needed it. Over the years, Chris and Nancy fostered refugee children from Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Laos, Liberia and Vietnam through Commonwealth Catholic Charities.
Diane Atkins, who serves as the event’s committee co-chair along with Susan Darling, attended the first organizational meeting and has been with the group ever since.
“Nancy was an inspiration to everyone on the No Room at the Inn Committee, holding the group together with one purpose, one mission: to end homelessness locally and in Haiti,” said Atkins.
“Nancy never failed to think of just the right words of encouragement, to give just the right touch, to offer just the right challenge, to share her faith with others,” Atkins continued. “Her faith in God above and her faith in us to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors near and far is what started No Room at the Inn more than 15 years ago.”
All ages welcome
Nativity sets are loaned to No Room at the Inn by parishioners and other families. Though they each depict Jesus’ birth, they do so in unique ways.
The nativity sets hail from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Some are made of common materials, such as wood, glass or porcelain, while others are made from corn husks, car parts or oyster shells. Some are as small as an egg, while others span several feet. One entry this year was created on a 3D printer.
The variety on display demonstrates that Christ can be found in everything, from popsicle sticks to pearls. The organizers allow each owner to write a short history of their nativity set, which is also displayed.
Since 2011, Church of the Redeemer has partnered with the school at Our Lady of Lourdes, Richmond. Each year, fourth graders use shoe boxes to create colorful dioramas depicting the holy night, which are then exhibited at No Room at the Inn.
It is one of the many ways the event works to get children involved. There is also a scavenger hunt that prompts children to find nativity sets that include certain elements such as lace, shamrocks, laughing donkeys and polar bears.
A children’s activity room allows young ones to touch, explore and interact with different nativities. The sets in the children’s room are made of cloth, Legos, rubber duckies and other materials that are not easy to break, unlike the crystal and ceramic nativities in the main exhibit room. Children can even dress up as Mary, Joseph, shepherds and wise men to take part in a “living nativity.”
There are books for families to read together and a station where children can make their own nativities.
Erika McCurry, who oversees the children’s area and has a background in early childhood education, explained, “Children learn best through experience. This hands-on experience deepens the story of the nativity with touchable pieces and various activities.”
Passion project
Each year, the proceeds from the event are disbursed between two local charities and the parish’s continued mission in Haiti. Event organizers rotate the charities every five years. Previous beneficiaries have been CARITAS, Safe Harbor, My Path Forward and Hanover Safe Place. This year, money raised is going to Moments of Hope Outreach and MCEF (Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Functions).
Moments of Hope provides emergency shelter, health screenings, bike repairs, clothes, food and prayer to unhoused individuals in the Richmond area. MCEF is a group of more than 40 local churches, businesses and volunteers who provide financial assistance to individuals and families struggling due to emergencies, such as a medical emergency or unemployment.
Building homes in Haiti has long been a passion project of Church of the Redeemer. Nancy Malone traveled there multiple times, as have other No Room at the Inn volunteers.
“Our parish has a long and deep connection to Haiti, dating back to 1996,” explained Paula Otto, publicity chair for No Room at the Inn. “Many parishioners have travelled there and have close connections to AFAL (Association of Female Activists in Lascahobas), the school we support, and the houses we build. The families for whom the houses are built in Haiti are among the neediest, and the modest homes often replace cardboard shanties.”
AFAL is a community of women in Haiti who work together to improve their community. “These are peasant women, some of whom cannot read or write, but want to do the best they can to improve the lives of their families,” Otto said.
Over the years, members of AFAL have taught cooking, sewing and female safety, started small businesses, and built a school. When they approached Church of the Redeemer for help building houses, the parish responded with No Room at the Inn.
“When I went to Haiti for the first time in 2012, I saw the difference the houses made … to the AFAL community by providing construction jobs,” recalled Darling. “No Room at the Inn exemplifies how the Redeemer community reaches out to those in need.”
What started as one woman’s idea blossomed into a community movement. No Room at the Inn has raised nearly $400,000, helping to build dozens of houses. This year’s event saw its largest crowd to date.
“Nancy remains an inspiration in love and faith and kindness to many, especially to me,” said Chris Malone.
“The continuation of the No Room at the Inn through the tireless effort of all on the organizing committee and so many volunteers and supporters from the parish and community is an amazing testament to Nancy’s vision of a world where there is room for everyone,” he added.