Jelly Roll announces 'biggest holiday toy drive in Nashville history'

Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean
Updated ·2 min read

Nashville-native Jelly Roll — a multi-CMT award-winner and the most nominated male performer at the upcoming Country Music Association Awards — has announced a Music City holiday toy drive through Dec. 15 to collect and distribute toys to families in need across Nashville.

The artist will appear at the Antioch Walmart at 3035 Hamilton Church Road on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. CT. The event is free for anyone who donates an unwrapped and unopened toy at the Antioch Walmart. Donations will begin Saturday at 8 a.m.

The event will resemble his Oct. 20 performance at the Walmart grand re-opening in Franklin. There, in partnership with Coca-Cola and Hasbro, Jelly Roll's campaign collected a kick-off donation of $25,000 worth of toys. Since then, Hasbro and Coca-Cola have pledged to donate an additional $25,000.

Jelly Roll is partnering with local and national organizations for a toy drive in Nashville.
Jelly Roll is partnering with local and national organizations for a toy drive in Nashville.

"This will be the biggest partnered toy drive in Nashville's history," said the Antioch area-native and Billboard chart topper behind the tracks "Save Me" and "Need a Favor."

More toy collections will occur at spotlighted events throughout Nashville and surrounding areas during the next six weeks.

These include the artist partnering with the Nashville Predators Foundation, empowered by SmileDirectClub, on Dec. 2 to collect toys during the NHL team's 3:30 p.m. game against the New York Rangers at Bridgestone Arena.

Donations also will be accepted during the Plaza Party presented by Dr. Pepper before the game at each arena entrance.

The event will occur alongside the Preds Foundation's annual holiday charity toy drive.

Jelly Roll hugs fan Suzanne Durham in July at Life Church Nashville. The hip-hop and country star gave a private concert for Durham, who has Stage 4 cancer and said meeting Jelly Roll was her dying wish.
Jelly Roll hugs fan Suzanne Durham in July at Life Church Nashville. The hip-hop and country star gave a private concert for Durham, who has Stage 4 cancer and said meeting Jelly Roll was her dying wish.

Toy bins can also be found at eight Nashville-based Walmart locations.

In a statement, Jelly Roll and his team expressed "great gratitude" to supporters, including Wade Hunt (Walmart), Nathan Spang (Coke Consolidated, RSM), Josh Lackey (Nashville Fire Hockey and Nashville Fire Department), Derek Keeler (Metro Nashville Police Department), Rebecca King (Nashville Predators Foundation) and Patrick McDill (Live Nation).

Jelly Roll's 2023 campaign follows his November 2022 announcement committing roughly $250,000 to programs aiding incarcerated and underserved Nashville youth via the local mentoring non-profit Impact Youth Outreach to fund a recording studio inside Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center (Jelly Studio), plus five $10,000 scholarships for graduating seniors in Davidson Country, and holiday season food and toy drives organized by Impact Youth Outreach.

Full list of donation locations

  • Ford Ice Center Antioch5264 Hickory Hollow ParkwayAntioch, 37013

  • Ford Ice Center Bellevue7638 B Hwy 70 S.Nashville, 37221

  • Walmart 6597044 Charlotte PikeNashville, 37209

  • Walmart 6885824 Nolensville PikeNashville, 37211

  • Walmart 7104424 Lebanon PikeHermitage, 37076

  • Walmart 37174040 Nolensville PikeNashville, 37211

  • Walmart 50583035 Hamilton Church RoadNashville, 37013

  • Walmart 56162421 Powell Ave.Nashville, 37204

  • Walmart 4482300 Pleasant Grove RoadMt. Juliet, 37122

  • Walmart 2723600 Mallory LaneFranklin, 37067

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jelly Roll announces 'biggest holiday toy drive in Nashville history'