Hands On Nashville (HON) recently hosted a community wide day of service at Mill Ridge Park, in partnership with the Tennessee Titans. Titans staff, fans, and community gathered Feb. 18 for several beautification projects and helped advance the park’s development, protect the environment, and prepare the grounds for spring.
“The community spirit in Nashville is always strong, but on Saturday the impact these volunteers made was game-changing,” said Darrell Hawks, executive director at Friends of Mill Ridge Park. “Spirits were high, and the enthusiasm was powerful. It was a glimpse into this new park’s future, with all its potential and possibilities. The green space that Mill Ridge Park provides and the services offered by Friends of Mill Ridge Park improve the health and quality of life in southeast Nashville. We can’t thank HON and the Titans enough for partnering with us and making the day such a success.”
During the event, volunteers addressed areas of need across the park’s 600 acres. Activities included setting up trail markers for future paths, repainting the Friends of Mill Ridge office building, restoring fences, creating seed bombs, expanding the orchard and more.
The event saw volunteers of all ages (with parental supervision). Titans cheerleaders, along with T-Rac (the Titans mascot) greeted guests as they signed in. Members of the Titans administrative staff, as well as players and alumni, including Ryan Fowler, Blaine Bishop, Andy Levitre and Reynaldo Hill, also participated in the cleanup.
“We’re grateful to the Titans for their partnership with Hands On Nashville, as well as their commitment to volunteerism in Middle Tennessee,” said Lori Shinton, CEO of Hands On Nashville. “These days of service are so important to HON and its mission and provide a great way for the community to learn about service and get a firsthand look at our partners and their impact. The Antioch community has a wonderful resource in Friends of Mill Ridge Park, and we’re dedicated to continue supporting them and our nearly 200 nonprofit partners in their mission.”
