Restoring Lives in Jesus’ Name
Knox Area Rescue Ministries restores dignity and hope to the area’s homeless population
The rumble of trucks and vehicles makes it hard to hear conversations under the I-40 overpass. A man in a wheelchair, his leg wrapped in a fresh bandage, looks across the street, where less than a football field away, drugs and prostitution are commonplace. A bag of his personal belongings leans against the red brick building home to Knox Area Rescue Ministries, also known as KARM, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Photo courtesy of Knoxville Area Rescue Mission
In the 1960s, five pastors saw the need to create a place for Knoxville’s homeless population. What started as a place for men is now a refuge for men, women, and mothers with children. Over 1,000 meals are served daily; most nights, the dorm-style rooms with over 300 beds are full. Each bed is prayed over by volunteers from across Knoxville in the hope that those who sleep there will not only find rest for the night, but peace in the gospel message.
“When the white flag is out, guests know they are more than welcome to come in out of the heat and humidity or rain ahead of the regular check-in time,” said Chris Agee, vice president of advancement. He waves a greeting to a woman helping a guest navigate paperwork. The spotless corridor is wide and opens into a large chapel with rows of seats, many occupied by a diverse group who watch the Olympic games on a big screen, a respite from the oppressive heat and humidity outside.
“Every person has a different immediate need,” said Agee. “For example, even questions like ‘How do I get a job?’ can be complicated because it is difficult if you don’t have your driver’s license, social security card, or birth certificate. Due to a variety of reasons, many of our guests don’t have access to those anymore.”
In addition to the essential services, guests can participate in daily four-week classes on everything from managing finances to dealing with trauma and addiction recovery.
Running the 89,000-square-foot center, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is a large task.
“We do roughly 300 loads of laundry every day by 2:00,” Agee shared. “Then we do it all over again.”
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Thankfully, they don’t have to do the work alone. Volunteers continue to support the KARM center. In 2024, over 1,700 volunteers have contributed more than 10,000 hours.
Photo courtesy of Knoxville Area Rescue Mission
KARM’s president and CEO, Danita McCartney, knows that despite KARM’s growth, its mission remains the same: to restore the lives of our homeless neighbors through Christ-centered support.
“The bedrock of our Ministry is ‘rescue,’” said McCartney. “We’re also trying to focus on making people healthier and giving them more options, which means increased job training opportunities and better trauma-informed care.”
McCartney is thankful for the partnerships it has with other organizations, such as the local Salvation Army and area churches.
“People are coming to us with a higher acuity of need, and they’re just sicker due to mental illness and drug addiction,” said McCartney, who also talked about the Serenity program for women and their children fleeing abusive situations.
“Our biggest challenge right now is space. We’re seeing the street population drastically increase.”
Part of KARM’s funding comes from a network of well-run thrift stores called KARM. At check-out, customers are told how many meals they’ve provided through their purchase (at approximately $2 per meal). When donations are dropped off, volunteers note which non-profit or local church was represented. KARM gift cards can be given out every quarter in what is known as the “Corners of the Field” approach to ensuring local churches are given the resources for their communities.
Pastor Kent Williams oversees the adult and singles ministry at Wallace Memorial and sees firsthand the benefits of KARM in the community.
“KARM is a great place to encourage our congregation to serve,” stated Williams, who has helped facilitate groups that volunteer at the nearby store and the downtown mission.
Photo courtesy of Knoxville Area Rescue Mission
“Those cards have been an incredible way for us to say ‘yes” to the many requests we get for help,” Williams said.
Six years ago, after moving from North Carolina, Tracie Riley visited the store as a customer; now, she is one of the 800 people employed in the 24 Knoxville-area stores.
“I feel confident in working here that it’s being used to God’s glory,” said Riley, the assistant manager of the Centerline location. “I love what KARM stands for, which is helping the most vulnerable in our community. That love is shared with those who walk through the doors and among the staff who work together. It is really a big family.”
Riley prays Ephesians 2:10 every day before going to work: “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ to do the work he prepared in advance for us to do.”
Part of the work being done in the lives of Knoxville’s homeless population is restoring dignity and hope in those people KARM considers their neighbors.
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