CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Even with outside temperatures at 15 degrees on Christmas Eve, that didn’t stop volunteers from pulling off “Warm Souls Christmas” at Austin Peay State University.
For more than 15 years, Radical Mission Compassionate Ministries, along with support from the community, has brought the holiday event to life. The event was open to everyone in the community and featured a family-style dinner, haircuts, photos, a kid’s corner, winter clothing, and new toys for children. Everyone 13 and older also received a free gift.
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Christmas Eve inside didn’t seem quite as cold as it was outside at the annual Warm Souls Christmas, at APSU’s Morgan University Center on Dec. 24, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
One of the organizers of the event, Jon Vaughn with Radical Mission, said they wanted everyone to come together and celebrate Christmas as a community, in a spirit of friendship, and share God’s love.
There were no final numbers available on how many people from the community benefited from Warm Souls Christmas, but more than 400 people received free meals, and close to 450 volunteers were on hand to take care of those who attended.
As in years past, the Clarksville Transit System also provided free transportation from the downtown transfer center to and from the event.
Dining Room Manager Cindy Smith, who has been a volunteer for many years, told Clarksville Now that the Warm Souls Christmas is a great program for the community.
“I enjoy doing it on Christmas Eve, and I enjoy meeting the people coming through receiving a hot meal, especially on a cold day like today. “It keeps Christmas in perspective and what it’s all about,” Smith said.