Restaurant hosts benefit for injured coach Jacy Todd

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - A community is coming together for one of their own. 

A benefit was put on by the Baldwin County stores of Zaxby's restaurant. Fifteen percent of the proceeds from purchases from 5-9 p.m. went towards Coach Jacy Todd's recovery. 

Todd, a football coach for Daphne High School, was in a near fatal car accident August 1. Todd spent weeks at USA Medical Center before being transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

Read Jacy's Todd's blog on his progress here

Earlier in the season, family and friends honored Todd at the Daphne vs. Spanish Fort game.

It has been tough for Daphne High School students without Todd. Football player Ryan Olsen says he still can’t believe his coach isn’t around. 

"It's like a piece of our team is missing because he was always a big part," said Olsen. 

Even students off the field miss Todd. 

"He’s a leader at our school. He really puts an impact on the student body," said Lanier Sanderfur. 

David Marks with Zaxbys said the restaurant’s owner came up with the idea to help. The fundraiser took off from there. 

"It feels good to do good. We have an opportunity to serve the community and we jumped on it," said Marks. 

The community isn’t just trying to raise money, they have something bigger in mind for Coach Todd. Senior Elliot Williams says they are working toward a goal.

"We want to go to state for Todd. We want to get him a ring," said Williams. 

Friday, Todd’s players will get to hand over the donations in person. He is making his first trip back to Daphne for senior night. 

"It’s all I can think about. When I was a freshman, that was the first team he coached at Daphne so it’s really special to me and all the other seniors,” said Williams. 

Todd will return for treatment Sunday.