Jelly Roll made it his mission to create the “biggest toy drive in Nashville history.”
Jelly Roll continues to show his heart for children with his latest philanthropic initiative. The rapper-turned-country singer recently wrapped up his Backroad Baptism tour which raised nearly $600k for at-risk youth, and has now shifted his focus to leading a record-breaking toy drive in Tennessee.
Jelly Roll, who is a Tennessee native, announced the toy drive on social media on October 19th, revealing that he has partnered with Hasbro, Coca-Cola, iHeart, and Metro Nashville to create the “biggest toy drive in Nashville’s history.”
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Jelly Roll hosted parking lot concerts with a toy donation as the cost of admission.
To support his toy drive mission, Jelly Roll played two free pop-up concerts in Walmart parking lots in middle Tennessee during the month of November. Anyone who donated a new, unwrapped toy to the holiday toy drive received free admission to the show. Hundreds of fans traveled from all over Tennessee to see Jelly Roll and numerous shopping carts were filled with donated toys that would go on to bless children this holiday season.
The toy donation bins remained at eight Walmart locations around Nashville through December 15th. Additionally, Jelly Roll partnered with the Nashville Predators Foundation to collect toys during their December game against the New York Rangers.
Jelly Roll donates a truckload of toys to the Last Minute Toy Shop.
When all was said and done, Jelly Roll filled an entire semi-truck with toys. On Saturday, December 16th, he donated them to The Last Minute Toy Store which provides toys to underprivileged Middle Tennessee children during the holiday season.
Nashville Sheriff Daron Hall praised the singer for his generosity, saying in a social media post:
“I met Jelly Roll over a year ago at the facility he was once housed. Before CMA/Grammy awards and much of his success said he wanted to give back. Today a truck loaded with toys showed up at The Last Minute Toy Store. You are changing music and lives. Thank you!”
A volunteer for The Last Minute Toy Store shared the sentiment, posting:
“The Last Minute Toy Store needed some gifts for 7,675 kids… Jelly Roll sent over a TRACTOR TRAILER… and DUNKED it.”
Bravo, Jelly Roll! Merry Christmas!