The Key Alliance is helping organize Project Coat Connect.
Project Coat Connect is a community-wide effort to collect new and gently used, warm winter coats for individuals and families (including Metro Nashville school children) who are struggling with homelessness.
The final collection day is SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2011 – at McKendree United Methodist Church in Downtown Nashville (523 Church Street – HOWEVER, the entrance to the drop-off location for the coats is on Commerce Street).
The Key Alliance is still looking for volunteers. Please, read here in detail about volunteer needs and opportunities.
In addition to our regular coat collection, we are partnering with the Nashville Symphony and LeAnn Rimes to collect coats for homeless children. Please read the following press release for more information:
LeAnn Rimes is calling on her fans to bring along warm winter coats for local homeless youth when she performs at the Nashville Symphony’s “Home for the Holidays” concert on Dec. 8 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. The coats will be collected in support of Project Coat Connect.
At the video shoot for her recent single “Give” from her new album Lady & Gentlemen, Rimes worked closely with 15 homeless youth in Chicago in partnership with her charity of choice, StandUp 4 Kids.
“That experience changed my life,” Rimes said. “Children affected by homelessness are true victims of circumstances that were out of their control.”
Rimes said that while shooting her music video, she learned about the loneliness and stigma homeless youth struggle with.
“It is important for us to acknowledge that there are children and youth who struggle with homelessness in our communities,” she said. “I want to tell each child and each family that we care about them.”
Local communities such as Nashville have service providers who offer help. However, especially for families and youth it is sometimes hard to ask for the help they need. Often they do not even know where to go for help. Rimes and Project Coat Connect are part of the initiative to encourage homeless families to step forward and ask for the help they need.
The coat drive is part of Project Coat Connect, a collaborative community effort to collect coats for homeless individuals and families. It is an opportunity for everyone to support local Nashville youth who struggle with homelessness and let them know that the community has not forgotten about them.
Clifton Harris, executive director of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission that coordinates Project Coat Connect, said having LeAnn Rimes be a part of the coat drive not only gives hope to children, it also draws the community together to reach out to its youth and their families.
“The solution to homelessness is breaking down barriers to housing and helping people connect to the services and income they need to remain in housing,” Harris said. “Solving homelessness is a long process and will take the entire community. But when we come together, we can make a difference – one person and one family at a time.”
Nashville families, youth and individuals struggling with homelessness are encouraged to visit the “Where to Find Help” directory at www.thekeyalliance.org/findhelp, which lists many available outlets. This resource depends on service agencies to report updates or request being added.
Project Coat Connect is a collaboration of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission, The Key Alliance, the band 2Steel Girls (www.SteelCountryMusic.com), The Bridge Ministry, McKendree UMC, First Baptist Nashville, and Craft memorial UMC in Columbia. For more information about Project Coat Connect visit www.thekeyalliance.org.
WHAT: LeAnn Rimes to collect winter coats for homeless youth in Nashville
WHEN: Fans can drop off coats at the Nashville Symphony’s Home for the Holidays concert on December 8, 2011 at 7 pm
WHERE: Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 1 Symphony Place, Nashville
WHY: To provide a warm coat for homeless children and youth (please donate only new or gently used winter coats)
To purchase available tickets to the show, please call the Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 615-687-6500.
