NFL Star Serves Hometown With Big Donation To Tulsa Day Center

An NFL star from Tulsa is once again making a difference in his hometown.

Seattle Seahawk Tyler Lockett’s foundation, Light It Up, donated thousands of dollars in clothing to the Tulsa Day Center for the homeless.

Tyler Lockett’s grandfather said Tyler is passionate to help people in need and certainly wants to give back to the place he grew up.

Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett is in his sixth season in the Emerald City, but the Booker T. Washington alumnus continues to give back to his hometown.

"He does a lot of things, but there's a lot of things still to be done,” Tyler's grandfather, John Lockett, said. “We're just taking it day by day, month by month, seeing what we can do.”

John Lockett is the executive director Tyler's Light It Up foundation. Their latest donation for the Tulsa community was to the Tulsa Day Center.

"He knew they were building a new center, with the pandemic going on he knew it was a greater need for everything, so he wanted to just kind of start out doing some things," Lockett said.

It includes boxes filled with shirts, socks, sweatshirts, jeans, shoes, backpacks and more, totaling about $20,000 worth.  

"When I told some of my coworkers, the guys went nuts. What!? Who!?" Tulsa Day Center Director of Development Monica Martin said.

Monica Martin is the Tulsa Day Center's Director of Development. She said they help an average of 65 people a night at the center.

Martin said as it gets colder, this donation will be crucial for months to come. Making a difference like that in Tulsa matters a lot to Tyler. Lockett's foundation has helped with holiday events for those in need and they plan to do more in the future.

"This is where he grew up at, this is where the people that helped him get where he is today,” Lockett said. “Believe me, he has not forgotten the people that helped him, the city that helped him, and that's dear in his heart.”