A few days ago, I drove past one of the soup kitchens run by the Interfaith Nutrition Network, where I often drop off donations of food and clothing. It was 9:30 in the morning and already there were men, women and young children lined up outside, waiting for the doors to open at 11:30 a.m.

That day it was a mild 65 degrees - but I started to think about what it was going to be like in December, January and February when it's 35 degrees, the wind is blowing, the sidewalks are caked with snow and icicles hang from every tree branch. It made me shiver just to think about it.

Your help is urgently needed!

Do you have warm clothes in your closets that no one's worn in years? Do you have canned vegetables, soup and other non-perishable food items you can spare?

If you do, call Dave Golbert at 459-9906 and we will gladly pick up your donation. (It's tax deductible, as well!)

If you would like to do more, we also welcome your tax-deductible contributions. Please make your check payable to: The Coalition for the Homeless or the Interfaith Nutrition Network. You can mail the checks to ''Dave's Journal'' at: 7 Lee Court West, Great Neck, NY 11024. Dave Golbert and his organization, raising funds through the journal, will send the checks on to the Coalition or to the INN, helping our less fortunate neighbors all over Long Island.

Thanks for sharing. Thanks for caring.