Pacers' Lloyd Pierce, Aaron Nesmith holding coat drive with Horizon House on Tuesday
INDIANAPOLIS -- When it’s come to his charity work, Lloyd Pierce has always thought first of the neediest.
In the Pacers lead assistant’s mind, that’s the key to improving communities and society at large. Find ways of caring for the most underprivileged, particularly the unhoused and unsheltered, and everyone else will benefit as well.
“If you’re helping those that are in need, it makes the community better,” Pierce said. “If they have a place to go, it keeps them off the street. If you keep them off the street, crime starts to go down. Crime starts to go down, everyone feels safe. There’s a big domino effect.”
Of course all of that is easier said than done as people who have the fewest resources naturally require the most care.
“One of the hardest thing to do is assist someone who has so many needs, so many pressing needs,” Pierce said. “Every little thing matters.”
That’s why Pierce started working with the Horizon House, the Indianapolis organization that focuses on placing "chronically homeless neighbors into permanent, safe, supportive housing" and why he’s partnering with them on a holiday season coat drive that runs through Tuesday. Pierce will be at Horizon House at 1033 East Washington Street from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday to meet fans. Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith will join him from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The first 50 fans will receive tickets to the Pacers' 7 p.m. game on Wednesday against Charlotte.
“For those that are unsheltered or out of homes, this is a rough period of time,” Pierce said. “ …One of the more pressing needs that (Horizon House) said they had right now was to give more coats. They provide shelter for those that are in need, but when they are stuck outside in the winter time, being able to provide gloves and coats, that’s very important. That might seem like it’s a small thing, but I think it’s big important thing for people that are in need right now.”
So Pierce and Nesmith are trying to help them procure as many as they can. There will be other opportunities to donate through the Pacers as well.
“It’s really just show up, if you have gently used or new coats you want to donate, just bring them by," Pierce said. "I believe throughout the arena there's going to be different bins at Monday's game where you can bring in a coat to donate. For our employees there will be other opportunities to donate. It's not going to be limited to Dec. 19 but we're trying to make a big push for Dec. 19. “
Pierce said he he has worked with organizations similar to the Horizon House at several stops in his career. He had more — as he put it — “access” and opportunity when he was a head coach in Atlanta with the Hawks from 2018-21 when he was more directly approached to be involved. Those organizations included Hope Thru Soap and Solomon’s Temple -- both organizations that focused on the homeless -- as well as the Georgia Innocence Project and the Lowery Institute.
“All of those things had kind of a shared mission,” Pierce said. “How can we do things that benefit our communities?”
And as someone who has spent 16 years in the NBA as a coach, Pierce considers that mission something that is an important part of the job.
“It’s our obligation,” Pierce said. “What I think about character, it’s doing things for others when no one is watching and you’re not doing it to be seen. This is really about helping people in need. I’ve always tried to identify organizations that are assisting other people that are in need. That’s been my passion, it’s been our family’s passion. I think anytime you’re working with the unsheltered community there are always areas you can address. This is one.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers' Lloyd Pierce, Aaron Nesmith holding coat drive
