Week 52. The SoupMobile Celebrate Jesus Event

December 24, 2018

Beginning in 2005, the SoupMobile’s annual Celebrate Jesus event makes “room at the inn” for 500 homeless men, women, and children at the downtown Dallas Omni Hotel.
The goal is to give the 500 homeless guests a truly magical Christmas. They all receive new clothes, gifts, and a lot of love, and attend a huge banquet held in their honor. Most importantly, when they wake up on Christmas morning, it’s in a warm, safe bed at the Omni – not in a cardboard box under a bridge.

Each year, more than 2,500 volunteers help the SoupMobile put on this one-of-a-kind event at Christmas. My family and I have worked the Banquet Red Carpet for more than a decade, encouraging friends to join us when they can. Volunteers line up on both sides of the 1,000-foot red carpet (just like at the Academy Awards). At 12:15 p.m., the 500 homeless men, women, and children descend from their rooms at the Omni and begin to walk the red carpet on their way to the banquet in the ballroom. Volunteers clap, cheer, high-five, hug, and share Christmas wishes. Once the last homeless guest has walked the red carpet, volunteers follow them into the ballroom. The homeless guests are treated to an amazing feast, served by more volunteers. This year’s program included words from Mayor Mike Rawlings, entertainment featuring Grammy Award winning gospel singer Tamela Mann, and an inspiring message from David Timothy, the Soup Man himself.

Just prior to the event this year, my son and I had a heartfelt conversation. He voiced his frustration at not being able to do more, and expressed his discomfort at “just standing and clapping.” We talked about the hardships of homelessness and how experiencing it can rob a person of their dignity. We agreed that maybe on Christmas Eve, the greatest thing we could do for the homeless was to help give them a sense of dignity. Simple things, like a handshake, a high-five, a hug, or truly looking them in the eye, can go a long way in restoring dignity and igniting hope.

As I stood on the red carpet, cheering and hugging the homeless guests, my own tears flowed freely as I saw the tears in their eyes and the smiles on their faces. I hoped that maybe – at least for that one day – they felt elevated, and loved, and hopeful.

Find out more about the SoupMobile and the work they are doing in Dallas.