SoupMobile’s 11th Celebrate Jesus Christmas Gala gives over 500 homeless people meals and a stay at the Omni Dallas Hotel on Christmas Eve.
Since 2005 SoupMobile has been putting on an event called Celebrate Jesus at the Downtown Dallas Omni Hotel on Christmas Eve. There they make ‘room at the inn’ for 500 homeless men, women, and children. Each guest is showered with love and receives new clothes, and awesome gifts. They also receive a 4-course meal served by waiters that paid to be there. They also get to spend the night and wake up in a safe and warm bed. Every year more than 2,500 volunteers show up to help with the event.
I heard they were looking for volunteer photographers to cover the event, so I signed up right away. It was an incredible event and I was so honored to be a part of it. I had never photographed such an incredible event before. Seeing all these homeless people smile with joy was so touching. It is because they are about to stay in a comfortable hotel and eat a delicious meal. It was hard to not get wrapped up in the moment myself and tear up. I definitely spend quite a bit of time talking to many of the people getting to know them. The SoupMobile’s 11th Celebrate Jesus Christmas Gala was the best way to spend my Christmas Eve. I truly hope I get to do it again.
