Warm Souls Christmas coming up with food, gifts, clothing and more on Dec. 23 in Clarksville

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Plans are underway for the annual Warm Souls Christmas. Usually held on Christmas Eve, this year’s event, hosted by Radical Mission Compassionate Ministries, will be Saturday, Dec. 23.

The free community event, which has been going on for more than 15 years, will be held at Austin Peay State University’s Morgan University Center from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. As always, Warm Souls Christmas will offer a family-style dinner, haircuts, family photos, gifts, coats and other winter weather items.

With the tornado that hit Clarksville on Dec. 9, Jon Vaughn with Radical Mission and Warm Souls said he wants everyone to come together as a community. “We want those who have been affected by the tornado to know they are welcome to join us to celebrate Christmas or just hang out with the community and share a meal,” Vaughn said.

“We just want people to focus on coming out and celebrating Christmas for what Christmas is really all about. Warm souls is all about neighbors loving on neighbors,” Vaughn said.

How you can help

Warm Souls Christmas is always in need of volunteers, and Vaughn said there are a lot of opportunities. “We start in the morning and run through right after lunch, so you can pick a time and a space that you want to be in. We just ask that everybody register at radicalmission.org,” Vaughn said.

More than 400 people attended the event in 2022 and were supported by close to 450 volunteers. When it comes to volunteers, hair stylist, Kim Williams of Trendsetters has made a special appeal for volunteers who are barbers or stylists to help with the free haircuts at Warm Souls Christmas.

Vaughn added they do use a lot of supplies, and the community can help with donations of cans of food like corn, green beans, and turkeys. There is a drop-off site at Community of Hope Church, 150 Richview Road for donations.

Free transportation

During the event on Dec. 23, as in years past, the Clarksville Transit System will provide free transportation from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. CTS Buses will run to and from Austin Peay and Warm Souls Christmas from the CTS transfer station downtown.

To find out more about Warm Souls Christmas, volunteer, or make a donation, visit radicalmission.org.

GET INVOLVED: For more information on local charities and how you can help them, go to ClarksvilleStrong.com.