Do Something!

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan.

Last week the Dallas area was hit by a record snowstorm. Many were calling it the storm of the century for this area of Texas. For Dallasites who rarely (if ever) see snowfall, this was an amazing weather event as more than 12 inches of snowfall rained down.

The Dallas area was literally turned into a winter wonderland. Schools closed, business's shuttered their doors, and people ventured out to play in the snow. Sledding, Snowman's and Snow Ball fights. But for some it wasn't all sugar and spice. Over 200,000 people lost their power. Many for a day or two and some up to five days. For most no power meant no heat. For long days and even longer nights people were huddled in their homes or apartments trying to stay warm. The fortunate ones had fireplaces, but even for them it was no picnic. With the night time temperatures dipping well below freezing it wasn't much fun going night after night with no heat.

Guess what? Even with no heat you are one of the lucky one. I know what you are thinking, 'hey SoupMan---have you gone off the deep end?' How can you call me lucky when I had to live in my house with no heat for days on end? The answer is simple. Imagine thousands of homeless men and women who had to survive the record snowstorm and freezing temperatures with no home whatsoever. Imagine as you sat huddled by your fireplace trying to get warm how you would fare if you were living outside in a cardboard box without any heat.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not making light of the fact that you had to live in your home with no heat for days. In fact I was one of the fortunate ones who did NOT lose his power. But I'm originally from Michigan and over the years we lost our power multiple times during the winter and let me tell you, losing your heat in a Michigan winter is not for the meek.

The point here is this. For those of us who have lost our power at one time or another and had to suffer days in a cold apartment or home, we got a 'small taste' of what the homeless go through on a daily bases every winter. And I think its a good taste. I think its okay to be reminded that homeless people out there are hurting. Good decent people whose lives have taken a turn for the worse. Good people who are suffering. Good people who need help.

So what can you do about it. Well as the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said:

"DO SOMETHING".

What 'something' you ask. Well you can volunteer with a local charity that services the homeless. If you don't have time to volunteer you could make a financial donation to the charity. If you don't have either time or money you could be in prayer for the homeless. Whichever it is---DO SOMETHING!

May the Lord Bless & Keep you all.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan
Executive Director---SoupMobile Inc.