Dear SoupFriends,

By now you’ve all heard the bad news. After 7 consecutive years of the SoupMobile taking 500 homeless men, women and children to the downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel for Christmas, it’s all come to an end.

On January 24, 2012, Lon Ricker - Chairman of our Christmas event, and I met with top Hyatt officials to sign the contract for Christmas 2012. To our dismay we were informed that the Hyatt would not be having us back. They mentioned that they were doing some remodeling and rooms could not be guaranteed.

This is a massive blow not for the SoupMobile, but for the 500 precious homeless that count on us each year for a magical Christmas.  Essentially we have been told that there is ‘No Room at the Inn.’  For 500 homeless men, women and children, that means no fabulous gifts, no new clothes, no mega-banquet, and no warm, safe night’s stay at the world class Hyatt Regency Hotel at Christmas 2012.

The SoupMobile Christmas event is a one of a kind in the entire nation. And with just a few words from the top Hyatt officials it’s all over.  2,000 years ago, there was ‘No Room at the Inn’ for baby Jesus. Regretfully, 500 hundred of the ones Jesus called the ‘least of these’ will be facing the same issue in 2012.

Now the question is:  where do we go from here? We know the door at the Hyatt is firmly closed and will not be reopening. Unfortunately it’s not as easy as picking up the phone and calling another hotel and making a reservation. After all we are talking about the logistics of housing and dealing with 500 homeless people and more than 2,000 volunteers. Further complicating matters is that it’s not so easy getting a hotel that will allow 500 homeless people inside its doors -- at any price!

Will you help? Can you help the SoupMobile find another World Class Hotel in Dallas that will take in 500 homeless this coming Christmas! Christ was turned away 2,000 years ago. Let’s work together to make sure 500 of his precious children are not turned away December 24-25^th, 2012.  To help, contact the SoupMan in person, by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone 1-800-375-5022.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

Executive Director

SoupMobile Inc.

NEWS UPDATE:

This story has been picked up by local news sources who are helping the SoupMobile in our search for a new hotel.

Dallas Morning News - "Annual Christmas event for homeless needs a new home this year"

Dallas Observer - "No Room at the Inn? It's February, But The SoupMan Already Needs a Christmas Miracle"

CBS 11 - "Charitable Homeless Holiday Tradition Coming To An End"