NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans' annual coat drive collected more than 1,000 new and/or gently used coats for men, women, children and infants prior to Sunday's game at LP Field.
Over the past decade, the Titans have collected, sorted and distributed more than 20,000 coats and provided them to organizations through their annual coat drive.
Representatives from the Titans and the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence distribute more than 1,000 coats from Sunday's stadium drive. (Photos: Lynne McCracken)
"We appreciate our fans continued support of the coat drive and their efforts to assist our organization with community outreach," said Thomas S. Smith, Titans president and chief executive officer. "The drive gives us the opportunity to distribute these coats to those that need them prior to the weather turning cold."
"We are so excited to be partnering with the Titans to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence," said Kyndyll Lackey, LAPSW community relations specialist with the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. "Athletes are powerful role models in our communities, and they can make a meaningful difference in shifting attitudes and promoting respect for women and girls. Violence against women is truly an epidemic: 1 in 3 women will experience rape or abuse in their life time. We hope other organizations will step up, speak out and get involved in helping to end violence against women, as the Titans have done.
"Events like this coat drive are wonderful, because they help raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence, and they help survivors, too," Lackey continued. "Many families who flee abusive situations must leave quickly; they have time to pack only a few belongings and they arrive at shelters lacking many basic items, like coats. We are grateful to the Titans fans who donated so many coats at the game yesterday; their generosity will bring comfort and warmth to women and children across our state this winter."
The sorting and distribution of the coats took place Monday morning at LP Field and agencies that received coats this year included:
• Avalon Center Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program
• CEASE Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault
• HomeSafe of Sumner, Wilson & Robertson Counties
• Nashville Drug Court Support Foundation
• Nashville Rescue Mission
• Magness Potter – The Red Shield Kids Club
• Radical Mission, Inc.
• Room In The Inn
• Saint Thomas Health, Ministry to the Underserved & On the Go Ministries
• Salvation Army Center of Hope – Nashville Area Command
• Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
• WRAP, Women's Resource and Rape Assistance Program
• YWCA – Nashville & Middle Tennessee
REMAINING 2014 TITANS CHARITY/STADIUM DRIVES
10/26 vs. Houston: Cell Phones for Soldiers
11/17 vs. Pittsburgh: Second Harvest Food Drive
12/14 vs. NY Jets: United States Marine Corps – Toys for Tots Drive
