By JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
Published: 11/24/2009  2:19 AM
Last Modified: 11/24/2009  4:48 AM

Doug Atwater had not planned on ending up in Tulsa, but here he was.

A Greyhound bus brought him in July 2008 — no friends, no home, just $100 in his pocket.

He met a man at the bus station, though, who said, “‘Brother, you can start over here,’” Atwater said, thinking back to his arrival in Oklahoma.

That summer, he visited the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, a visit that changed his life.

“It’s my family here in Tulsa,” he said. “I loved this place, and they love me back.”

Now, Atwater is the clothing room manager for the Tulsa Day Center, which is in need of coats for a fast-approaching winter. That’s why T-Town Trolley and the Tulsa Oilers are teaming up for a one-day, citywide coat drive on Friday to benefit the homeless population.

The trolley will stop at four locations in Tulsa: 10 a.m. at McNellie’s, 409 E. First St.; 1 p.m. at Leon’s, 3301 S. Peoria Ave.; 3 p.m. at Camille’s, 9637 S. Riverside Parkway in Jenks; and 5:30 p.m. downtown at BOK Center, during the Oilers game.

People who donate a coat will receive a free ticket to the hockey game.

“We can take as many coats as we can get,” Atwater said. The weather hasn’t been that bad yet, but it most likely will be soon enough.

This will be Tulsa Day Center’s first coat drive of the year, said Hallie Green, development director at the center. With recently fluctuating temperatures, it’s rather obvious that more coats are needed to stock Atwater’s storage room.

Keep

in mind, too, that homeless don’t have places to store their belongings, Green said, so they usually aren’t able to hang on to a coat from season to season.

The center sees about 400 people a day, so coats of all sizes are needed, she said. Anything that can be layered would be much appreciated — sweatshirts, sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, anything to keep men, women and children warm. As men make up the majority of people at the center, men’s coats are needed most.

The center also needs sheets, blankets and bath towels, which are washed daily.

Many people might not realize how important the center is to those who don’t know when — or if — their next meals are coming.

Atwater, for instance, had never been in a situation before like the one he found himself upon arriving in Tulsa. He experienced firsthand what it was like to have no place to go, to depend on strangers for necessities to live — specifically, food and clothes.

“It’s a blessing, this place here,” Atwater said, adding he wished every city in the country had a place like Tulsa Day Center. “You can’t even put a price on it, to serve my brothers and sisters. It’s truly a wonderful feeling to me.”

Holiday needs

Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, 415 W. Archer St., needs your help to spread holiday cheer. Here are some simple ways you can do it:

Outdoor lights are always a special treat. You can decorate the center’s courtyard with lights.

Come with craft supplies, enough to make 25-30 ornaments, cards or other decorations.

Be Santa Claus by treating one of the center’s housed clients — mostly single adults, but some families — to the holiday they wouldn’t have otherwise. You will receive a wish list for each person or family that has been nominated by a case manager.

Help collect items so folks who wake up at the center Dec. 25 will have a special breakfast. Needed: 150 each of flavored oatmeal packets, fruit cups or fruit, muffins, milk, sugar, sweetener, juice, hot cocoa packets and decaffeinated coffee.

Let there be light — and water, electricity and staff to serve our clients all year long. That said, monetary gifts are much appreciated. Or donate in honor of friends and family this holiday with a donation in their name and a holiday card you sent out acknowledging your gift.

For more on how you can help, contact Debra Dester at either 583-5588 or ddester@tulsadaycenter.org.

Citywide Coat Drive to Benefit Area’s Homeless Population

Tulsa Oilers Giving Free Tickets with Donation

With cold weather approaching, the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless announced today that T-Town Trolley, Tulsa Oilers and e2  are teaming up for a one-day, citywide coat drive on Friday, Nov. 27 to benefit the area’s homeless population.

“We see about 400 people each day – men, women and children – so we have a tremendous need for coats of all sizes,” said Hallie Green, development director at the Day Center. “Hoodies, jackets, heavy winter coats… anything that can be layered. We can use it all.”

The trolley will stop at several locations around Tulsa throughout the day and end up at the BOK Center in time for that night’s Oiler’s hockey game. People who donate a coat will get a free ticket to the hockey game.

The trolley will stop at four locations across Tulsa area:

• 10 a.m. Downtown: McNellie’s, 409 E. 1^st Street
• 1 p.m. Brookside: Leon’s, 3301 S. Peoria Ave.
• 3 p.m. Jenks:  Camille’s, 9637 S. Riverside Parkway
• 5:30 p.m. Oiler’s Game:  BOK Center Downtown Tulsa

For more information call Tom Droege at 599-0029 or email tom@rexpr.com or Gina Holloway with E2 Worldwide Events 935-5656.

Founded in 1985, the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless provides a safe, healthy environment for the homeless and opportunities for these individuals to achieve self-sufficiency. The center provided care for 11,419 individuals in 2008. For more information about the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, visit the Web site at www.tulsadaycenter.org

July 6th, 2009 BOK Center

Catch the T-Town Trolley at Osage Million Dollar and All BOK Arena Events

FOR MORE INFORMATION 949-LOOP

Monday January 26, 2009 at 8:00pm

Monday, January 26, 2009 at 8:00 PM at BOK Center in Tulsa, OK

AC/DC single-handedly turned a generation onto sex, drugs & rock ‘n’roll. Now they’re back to corrupt a whole new youth with one of the most legendary stage shows in rock. Don’t miss guitarist Angus Young’s schoolboy-on-speed shredding and the rest of the band when their tour hits BOK Center in Tulsa, OK. This is your chance to see this legendary band live and on stage!                                                                

AC/DC was first formed in Australia in 1973 and they began by working in small local clubs around Sydney to help generate publicity. It seemed to work, because in no time they were signed to a contract and went on to become one of the biggest selling bands of all time.

Catch the Trolley to the concert at Mcnellies, Crowne Plaza, Doubletree Hotel,  starting at 6pm  at Mcnellies,        Trolley runs every 30 minutes.

For more information, visit www.ttowntrolley.com or www.milliondollarelm.com.

Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino Announces the partnership between the T-Town Trolley and the Casino.   T-Town Trolley will be transporting Casino guests to and from the Casino to the Downtown and Brookside venues.

Jan. 6th , 2: 00 pm at the Osage Elm Casino – Press Conference and Ribbon Cutting