Titans linebacker David Thornton and more than 90 volunteers from Genesco Inc. teamed up at the Martha O’Bryan Center to help spread the spirit of Christmas to children of the downtown Nashville community.

Genesco’s ‘Cold Feet, Warm Shoes’ program, along with Thornton, fitted approximately300 children with new shoes and warm hats on Tuesday.

“It’s about giving back,” Thornton said. “The purpose and intentions are in the right direction. Being here and being a blessing to some children and it is something I really enjoy doing, coming back to the Martha O’Brien Center, again. I was able to come here during Thanksgiving time and now back doing Christmas as it is real awarding to me.”

Thornton joined the ‘Cold Feet, Warm Shoes’ program when he played in Indianapolis for the Colts. After he signed with the Titans earlier this year, Thornton said he was eager to find ways to give back to his new community and that when he found out the same programs were available in the Nashville area, he knew it would be a part of his charitable gifts to the area.

“It is something I really enjoy doing,” Thornton said. “I am trying to find ways to fit into the Nashville community, and wherever I can make someone feel a little better and a better choice as I am always for those things.”

Thornton assisted his fellow volunteers in both a morning and afternoon session at the Martha O’Bryan Center. The outside linebacker said the mission was a success.

"A lot of these kids come from a very challenging situation whether it is from in there home or in there environment,” Thornton said. “We just try to spread a little life and encouragement to show that anything is possible as better days are ahead. This is something the kids are very receptive of. We are looking forward to coming back this afternoon and kicking it off again.”

Since his move to Tennessee Thornton has been eager to give back to his new community. Thornton’s charity programs all involve children.

"I knew when I made my decision to join a new team, I knew I wanted to be apart of the community and give back is something I have always done,” Thornton said. “My father is a minister, he is one who gets out in the community and serves so I knew wherever, and I needed to give out to the community cause the need is always there.”

“My little platform that I have been blessed with is that I can encourage a kid and make someone smile a little bit and encourage them to do well in school. It may work as a lot of times but it may not work a lot of times as it is a win for me. Those are the small wins you can get off of the field. I am excited about being in Nashville and I am closer to North Carolina at the same time. It wasn’t that tough of a decision when I saw how great this organization is.”