Monday, August 17, 2009

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN!!!! (PFH)

Ah, Pennies from Heaven! Sounds like an old movie title. Well in fact it is. It's from 1936 and stars Bing Crosby. Some of you younger folk might not remember Bing, but every year at Christmas you hear one of his most famous songs on the radio---'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.'

However it seems I digress. Back to Pennies from Heaven---2009. Did you know that the SoupMobile has been running a (PFH) campaign for the past year. What's that all about you ask?

Well the SoupMan got the Pennies from Heaven idea from a 10 year old boy from Michigan named Andrew. A few years ago Andrew decided to raise money to help his school buy equipment. His goal was to collect ONE MILLION PENNIES--which equals $10,000 and donate the money to his school. It took him #14 months to do it, but do it he did. I was truly inspired when I heard this story. I figured if a 10 year old boy could collect One Million Pennies for a good cause, so could you. So I put out the challenge to groups, churches, schools, organizations and individuals to have their own Pennies from Heaven campaign whereby they would collect pennies and donate them to the SoupMobile so we could buy food for the homeless.

So far over 20 groups/individuals have signed up and started collecting pennies. The top penny collector to date is the John D. Horn High School in Mesquite, Texas. They collected just over ONE HALF MILLLION PENNIES and donated that money to the SoupMobile to be used to feed the homeless. As we speak they are still collecting more pennies.

So now I can hear you thinking, 'Hey, anybody could collect pennies--even I could do it.' Well the SoupMan couldn't agree more. You can do it and it will be for a good cause. Want to know more about joining the SoupMan in collecting pennies which will be used to feed the homeless. Simply go to www.soupmobile.org and click on PENNIES FROM HEAVEN and read all about it.

Guess what!!! If a 10 year old boy can do it, so can you!!!

God bless you all,

David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Christmas in August???

Dear SoupFriends,

Here in Dallas in the heart of SoupMobile land its August. Temperatures are hovering around 100 degrees every day. In a word it's hot! So who's thinking about Christmas???

Well actually the SoupMan and his fabulous SoupTeam are thinking about Christmas. Planning is in full swing for the SoupMobile's 5th Annual Christmas Angel Project which will take place Dec. 24th & 25th, 2009.

This Christmas the SoupMobile will take 500 homeless men and women right off the streets of Dallas and put them up at the downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel. Yes, THE Hyatt Regency. All of our homeless friends will receive new clothes, fabulous gifts, great food, lots of love and a huge banquet in their honor. And when they wake up on Christmas morning it will be in a safe warm bed at the Hyatt---not in some cardboard box under a bridge.

Planning to house and entertain 500 homeless men and women for Christmas is an enormous task. Fortunately for the SoupMobile we have just the right people in place to run our Christmas Angel Project this year. The Chairman of this years event is the SoupMobile's Director of Development--Lon Ricker. Assisting Lon is our very own ace Volunteer Coordinator--Linda Graf. Two dynamic people with a passion for helping the homeless. Our grateful thanks to Lon and Linda for their faithful service.

Last year in 2008 we had over 700 volunteers come down to the Hyatt and volunteer to help us with the event. This year we estimate over 1,000 volunteers will attempt to sign up. I know what you are thinking. "I want to be part of this years event." Well, no worries as we would love to have you, but remember its first come first serve. Every year we have to shut down the volunteer slots in December. So if you want to volunteer be sure to sign up early. How and when can you sign up? The magic date is November 1st, 2009. On that date simply go to www.soupmobile.org and click on CHRISTMAS ANGEL PROJECT and you can sign up right on line.

Volunteering at the Christmas Angel Project will be the best Christmas gift you ever give. And when you see the smiles on the faces of our homeless friends and the tears in their eyes, it will be the best Christmas gift you ever receive.

God bless you all.

David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

Monday, August 3, 2009

SoupMobile is a Dignitary for the Nation!!

The SoupMobile has just received a huge honor as a host to U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). We are so humbled that the IVLP has chosen the SoupMobile to sponsor their international volunteers while they are visiting the United States.

As a little background, the IVLP is designed to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries through carefully designed visits that reflect the participants' professional interests and support U.S. foreign policy goals. That’s right! The SoupMobile is a direct reflection what America is about, serve before self.

The SoupMobile is very excited to welcome our visitors to the United States that will be coming from the countries of Columbia and Morocco.


The SoupMan is joined by Jhoana Moreno (Columbia), and Najwa Laassekri (Moracco)




Tezita Getadrew from IVLP and International Volunteers preparing snacks for the homeless.