— On some nights this year, the Gospel Rescue Mission has had to put cots in its TV room to ease an overflow in its men’s dormitory.

Up to five men have been sleeping on the cots, said mission director Jack Murr.

The addition of another dorm room and donation of beds could expand the men’s bed space from 20 to 30 beds.

“We’re running 23 men right now,” Murr said. “We’ve been running like this most of the year — winter, spring, summer. It’s been hot. We’ve been keeping the dormitory close to capacity, staying full.”

Volunteers are building a new dorm room that could house 10 men.

However, the mission needs beds to fill it, Murr said. The mission is seeking donations to buy five metal bunk beds for the new room, he said. The estimated cost for the five metal beds is $2,800.

A church in Kentucky raised money to build temporary walls for the new 36- by 15-foot room.

“The vacation Bible school took up a collection and the children gave $1,000 for the mission to do the addition,” Murr said. The church was his parents’ church, Cutshin Bible Church in Yeaddis, Ky.

A locker room, where men could put their belongings, will be built beside the bedroom. The rooms are being built in a storage room.

Volunteers, including two members of the Muskogee Fire Department, spent the past few days building the temporary walls. Murr said the room could be ready by the end of the month.

Murr said the mission is seeking other ways to accommodate the overflow of men. He said he plans to add a second exit in the back of the men’s dormitory.

“We’d like to have two exits for any area we sleep people,” Murr said.

The mission also wants to expand bathroom and shower space.

“Right now, we have two showers, two commodes and two sinks,” he said. “If we add a third more men, we’d still have the same bath space we have for 20 men. I’d like to add another bathroom.”

The Gospel Rescue Mission Board has not voted on the new bathroom or other renovations, Murr said.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogee

phoenix.com.

You can help

The Gospel Rescue Mission, 326 S. Second St., is seeking donations to help buy five metal bunk beds. Contact Jack Murr at the Gospel Rescue Mission, (918) 682-3489.