Sharing warmth is an instinct. When we’re cold—or when we see someone enduring the harshness of winter—we instinctively seek to offer warmth. We might rub our hands together to bring feeling back to frozen limbs, stand close to share body heat, bundle up with extra layers, or offer a cup of hot tea to someone in need.

In today’s society, too many people endure the freezing cold of winter without shelter, but homelessness often means more than just physical cold. It means being pushed to society’s margins, invisible and unacknowledged, experiencing a “social cold” that deepens their isolation.

In light of this, volunteers from New Acropolis in Chicago braved a snowy, bitterly cold day to connect with local neighbors experiencing homelessness, offering warmth in many forms. They prepared sandwiches, hot soup, and coffee to share, distributed blankets and warm clothing, and—most importantly—spent time listening and sharing moments of genuine human connection. These acts were not about judgment, but about recognizing the humanity and dignity in each person.

We learned that, while we may not be able to change another person’s circumstances, we can always bring warmth to a cold situation by simply seeing them for who they truly are: dignified human beings.