As we enter the joyous holiday season, I implore all of you who are reading this to include the homeless and disadvantaged in your thoughts and prayers. Imagine what it is like not to have family and friends to spend the holidays with, or a warm house to call your own. Tens of thousands of people are in that situation around the country. They don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and they live a lonely existence on city streets.

Why not reach out during the holidays and touch those hurting souls by donating food or clothing, volunteering at local shelters and other agencies that assist the poor, or providing your expertise and skills at no cost to help the needy. In today’s struggling economy, there are more people hurting than ever before. It could be your neighbor, your colleague at work, or a relative who needs a helping hand.

At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we guide thousands of men and women as they embark on the journey to a brand-new life. We provide food, shelter, clothing, and job skills, and introduce them to the miracle of God’s love. This fall and winter we expect to see thousands of hungry men, women and children come to the Mission, as the cold weather and bitter economic conditions drive them to seek help. In fact, we anticipate that our shelters will be busting at the seams with people who are cold, exhausted and brokenhearted.

The holidays are a time for happiness, family, and togetherness. While you are enjoying this special season, I hope that you will find a way to bring joy and comfort to a hurting soul and help change a life in the process.