April 24, 2019 at 09:02PM
Titans players, cheerleaders and NFL representatives came out to help support Nashville's homeless population on Tuesday evening. Mariah Timms, USA Today Network-Tennessee
Kevin Byard felt the love Tuesday night.
The Tennessee Titans safety joined teammates, NFL representatives, Play 60 coaches, Titans cheerleaders and several hundred homeless or food insecure Nashville residents under the Jefferson Street bridge for dinner and music.
"I come from humble beginnings myself. Any time there's an event like this that can bring a lot of people together, show love... any time I can reach out and give back to the community, I'm definitely going to do it," Byard said.
They joined the weekly Bridge Ministry event that allows anyone in need to get a hot meal, listen to a church service and pick up groceries under the bridge.
The Titans program regularly volunteers with the Bridge Ministry, and Byard has joined the Thanksgiving service for the past few years, as have several of his teammates.
Founded by Candy Christmas, the group has held services every Tuesday for 15 years, come hell or high water, she said.
"We don't ever miss a Tuesday night. Rain, shine, snow, sleet, tornadoes or the 500-year flood, we're here," Christmas said. "I know that this is the Volunteer State and the people of Nashville have a heart. I feel that as long as this is Nashville, Tennessee, people are going to help."
Christmas said Nashville is home to 11,000 homeless people — 4,000 of which are children. The Bridge to Children program helps feed homeless and food insecure children, and has a reach into 38 Metro Nashville schools.
"Seeing them grow is phenomenal. Some of them, the first time we see them, they have zero social skills. They won't speak, they won't communicate," Alex Pearne, Bridge to Children Director said. "Each week you slowly see layers begin to peel off. You see smiles that weren't there when you first got them."
Buy Photo Hope Page gets a hug from Cleo King while getting bags of food from volunteers under the Jefferson Street bridge on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans joined with Bridge Ministry and other volunteers to help the homeless in Nashville. (Photo: Mark Zaleski/ For The Tennessean)
The event this week was tied to the NFL's season-long "Huddle for 100" initiative to encourage clubs and fans to donate 100 minutes each to a local community program.
In the lead-up to the NFL Draft this weekend, the organization looked to the Titans for inspiration on what Nashville programs needed the most help.
"The main event is a football event, but while we're here, we're giving back to the communities," Anna Isaacson, senior VP for social responsibility, said. "We want to leave a legacy for thousands of people, even those who aren't necessarily going to show up at the draft itself. It's part of the fabric of the NFL, no matter where we are."
Isaacson said Nashville's branch of the "Huddle for 100" is focused on a "Huddle for Hunger" which includes the Bridge ministry event, as well as several other social outreach moments throughout the week.
The Tennessee Titans plan to hold their own "Huddle" events as the season continues.
"This year is especially, incredibly important to us. It's our 100th season. We want to say thank you and show our appreciation to the communities that supported us for the first 100 years," Isaacson said. "This is just the first day of many."
Buy Photo Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, left, carries a meal for Mark McCormick under the Jefferson Street bridge on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans joined with Bridge Ministry and other volunteers to help feed the homeless in Nashville. (Photo: Mark Zaleski/ For The Tennessean)
Some young attendees on Tuesday night were more excited about the chance to play football than about meeting the Titans players.
Tae'sean Grayson, 13, Dae'johnnay Black, 9, Charles Grayson, 8, and Chardrick Williams, 4, all had a chance to play in the children's area. There, representatives from the NFL's Play 60 kid's fitness program had set up a series of child-friendly football drills and obstacle courses.
"The coach told me I'm a good catcher and thrower," Black said.
Charles said his favorite part was "knocking the things down."
Their mother, Catrina Grayson, said the family regularly attends the Bridge Ministry event and says it's a good thing for their family.
"We love it," she said. She is not a huge fan of football, but said her husband and boys are very excited for the draft.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Bridge Ministry can visit bridgeministry.org or call 615-855-2611. For more information on Huddle for 100, visit nfl.com/100/huddlefor100.
"Donating, dedicating your time, I think that's the most important thing you can do for people. You never know what it could do to somebody's day, month or year, you never know," Byard said. "You see the love here, you feel the love and energy around. I think it's something anybody should want to be a part of."
Reach reporter Mariah Timms at mtimms@tennessean.com or 615-259-8344 and on Twitter @MariahTimms.
Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/04/24/nfl-draft-tennessee-titans-nashville-homeless-bridge-ministry-volunteer-event/3543116002/
Titans players, cheerleaders and NFL representatives came out to help support Nashville's homeless population on Tuesday evening. Mariah Timms, USA Today Network-Tennessee
Kevin Byard felt the love Tuesday night.
The Tennessee Titans safety joined teammates, NFL representatives, Play 60 coaches, Titans cheerleaders and several hundred homeless or food insecure Nashville residents under the Jefferson Street bridge for dinner and music.
"I come from humble beginnings myself. Any time there's an event like this that can bring a lot of people together, show love... any time I can reach out and give back to the community, I'm definitely going to do it," Byard said.
They joined the weekly Bridge Ministry event that allows anyone in need to get a hot meal, listen to a church service and pick up groceries under the bridge.
The Titans program regularly volunteers with the Bridge Ministry, and Byard has joined the Thanksgiving service for the past few years, as have several of his teammates.
Founded by Candy Christmas, the group has held services every Tuesday for 15 years, come hell or high water, she said.
"We don't ever miss a Tuesday night. Rain, shine, snow, sleet, tornadoes or the 500-year flood, we're here," Christmas said. "I know that this is the Volunteer State and the people of Nashville have a heart. I feel that as long as this is Nashville, Tennessee, people are going to help."
Christmas said Nashville is home to 11,000 homeless people — 4,000 of which are children. The Bridge to Children program helps feed homeless and food insecure children, and has a reach into 38 Metro Nashville schools.
"Seeing them grow is phenomenal. Some of them, the first time we see them, they have zero social skills. They won't speak, they won't communicate," Alex Pearne, Bridge to Children Director said. "Each week you slowly see layers begin to peel off. You see smiles that weren't there when you first got them."
Buy Photo Hope Page gets a hug from Cleo King while getting bags of food from volunteers under the Jefferson Street bridge on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans joined with Bridge Ministry and other volunteers to help the homeless in Nashville. (Photo: Mark Zaleski/ For The Tennessean)
The event this week was tied to the NFL's season-long "Huddle for 100" initiative to encourage clubs and fans to donate 100 minutes each to a local community program.
In the lead-up to the NFL Draft this weekend, the organization looked to the Titans for inspiration on what Nashville programs needed the most help.
"The main event is a football event, but while we're here, we're giving back to the communities," Anna Isaacson, senior VP for social responsibility, said. "We want to leave a legacy for thousands of people, even those who aren't necessarily going to show up at the draft itself. It's part of the fabric of the NFL, no matter where we are."
Isaacson said Nashville's branch of the "Huddle for 100" is focused on a "Huddle for Hunger" which includes the Bridge ministry event, as well as several other social outreach moments throughout the week.
The Tennessee Titans plan to hold their own "Huddle" events as the season continues.
"This year is especially, incredibly important to us. It's our 100th season. We want to say thank you and show our appreciation to the communities that supported us for the first 100 years," Isaacson said. "This is just the first day of many."
Buy Photo Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, left, carries a meal for Mark McCormick under the Jefferson Street bridge on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans joined with Bridge Ministry and other volunteers to help feed the homeless in Nashville. (Photo: Mark Zaleski/ For The Tennessean)
Some young attendees on Tuesday night were more excited about the chance to play football than about meeting the Titans players.
Tae'sean Grayson, 13, Dae'johnnay Black, 9, Charles Grayson, 8, and Chardrick Williams, 4, all had a chance to play in the children's area. There, representatives from the NFL's Play 60 kid's fitness program had set up a series of child-friendly football drills and obstacle courses.
"The coach told me I'm a good catcher and thrower," Black said.
Charles said his favorite part was "knocking the things down."
Their mother, Catrina Grayson, said the family regularly attends the Bridge Ministry event and says it's a good thing for their family.
"We love it," she said. She is not a huge fan of football, but said her husband and boys are very excited for the draft.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Bridge Ministry can visit bridgeministry.org or call 615-855-2611. For more information on Huddle for 100, visit nfl.com/100/huddlefor100.
"Donating, dedicating your time, I think that's the most important thing you can do for people. You never know what it could do to somebody's day, month or year, you never know," Byard said. "You see the love here, you feel the love and energy around. I think it's something anybody should want to be a part of."
Reach reporter Mariah Timms at mtimms@tennessean.com or 615-259-8344 and on Twitter @MariahTimms.
Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/04/24/nfl-draft-tennessee-titans-nashville-homeless-bridge-ministry-volunteer-event/3543116002/
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