Merriman Coat Drive Set for Tuesday
11/15/2009 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 15, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The seventh-annual Light's On Foundation Coat Drive will be held Tuesday at Maryland's men's basketball game vs. Fairfield (8 p.m. tip).
Over the past six years, the foundation of former Terp Shawne Merriman has collected over 15,000 coats for the benefit of the Community for Creative Non-violence Shelter in Washington, D.C.
Current Terrapin student-athletes will be accepting donated items of new or gently-used coats, hats, scarves, and other warm clothing as soon as the gates open at 6:30 p.m. The collection will continue until the end of the first half.
Fans who are unable to make it to the game can drop off donations in the Academic Center on the first floor of the Comcast Center or the Gossett Football Team House until Wednesday. The hours for the drop-off are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.
Update: Shawne Merriman was expected to attend the coat drive, but due to a mandatory meeting with the San Diego Chargers was unable to travel on Tuesday. The event will proceed as scheduled, though the autograph session has been canceled.
Statement from Merriman:
"I would like to thank you for your support for my seventh annual Coat Drive. I truly regret that I will not be in the Washington DC area (Tuesday) but I want to assure you that I am 100 percent committed to helping the homeless and we will proceed with the coat collect and distribution."
updated at noon on Nov. 17
