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