Dec. 8, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland football player Shawne Merriman and several of his teammates will host the second-annual Holiday Coat Drive this Sunday, December 12th, at Comcast Center before the Terrapin men's basketball team takes on UNC Asheville. Game time for the Terps and Bulldogs is 1:00 p.m. and Merriman and Co. will begin collecting coats outside of the arena at Noon.

Merriman started this project - which benefits area family shelters in College Park and D.C. to name a few - because of a childhood in which he endured many winter nights without a coat of his own and often times an uncertainty of whether his home would have electricity when he returned from school on a cold night. Since that time, the defensive end recently named first team All-ACC has focused his efforts both on the football field and in the community.

"This time of year, there are so many people out there who aren't able to afford coats," said Merriman. "I know the feeling and I want to do all I can to make sure others don't."

Last season's coat drive was a resounding success thanks to the Terp football team and the support of Maryland fans. The original goal of 1,500 coats was more than doubled as area shelters were supplied with over 3,500 winter coats.

New and old coats, ski jackets, parkas and windbreakers are all accepted. All donations are tax deductible. (More information can be obtained by calling K.J. Hughes at (202) 246-2116.)