Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams-Paisley to expand free grocery concept 'The Store' in partnership with Nashville hospital
The Store — country star Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley's 2020 non-profit organization that offers free groceries to empower Nashville families and individuals in need — is evolving into something more significant as the West Virginia native steps into the next quarter century of his Nashville career.
The couple announced that The Store would partner with TriStar for a second Store location in Music City, aimed at helping Nashvillians deal with food insecurity concerns. They planned to formally announce the expansion during a news conference at North Nashville's TriStar Centennial Medical Center.
The current location on Belmont University's campus offers fresh food and services to assist over 1,000 children and youth with special mental health needs and their families each year.
How does The Store work? What to know about Nashville nonprofit for free groceries
The new storefront will be located on the ground level of TriStar Centennial's B Garage, located at 311 23rd Ave North.
Partnership and expansion
A Dec. 2023 Tennessean editorial noted that while the overall food insecurity rate in Davidson County is 12.4%, specific demographics are disproportionately affected. Food insecurity rates for children and people who identify as Black or Hispanic have risen six percent since COVID-19's quarantine.
Store CEO Collen Mayer said TriStar Centennial initially approached The Store for an expansion opportunity during an exclusive interview with The Tennessean prior to the announcement. He's served as The Store's CEO since Sept. 2023, arriving at the position after working in the non-profit space with Safe Haven Family Shelter, Catholic Charities of Tennessee and United Way of Central Alabama.
The new location will offer food and clothing to hundreds on a waiting list.
A $5 million expansion campaign will also fund the site, including the construction and operation of the Centennial space.
Paisley and his wife have contributed the first $1 million towards achieving that goal.
The Store is also launching a "Doubling Our Difference" expansion campaign to help fund operating expenses for the second location and future expansion opportunities. Supporters can donate at all financial levels, including participating in the "Checkout Crew." In that program, a $500 donation earns a permanent inscription on the checkout lanes.
TriStar Centennial-affiliated HCA Healthcare, comprised of 186 hospitals, including TriStar Centennial and The HCA Healthcare Foundation, has donated $125,000 to The Store since 2019. Colleagues at HCA Healthcare and TriStar Health have also consistently volunteered with The Store.
How The Store services Nashville's community
"The Paisley's desire to teach their children about volunteering has evolved into taking (a more significant) role in combatting poverty in Nashville," Mayer said. "More families than ever are one paycheck away from needing assistance. Instead of using success to open a bar or club, they're engaging in serving families in the community with value-driven support."
The Store is structured and operated in a manner meant to preserve the dignity of those in need of help.
"This isn't a food pantry where we hand out boxes of other people's leftovers," he added. "Instead, by developing a space into a store — where there are shopping carts and volunteers serve as grocery store employees — we have created a dignified, respectful interaction that hopefully allows someone to feel like they're not in a crisis where they can't get ahead."
In a written statement, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley added that since opening The Store in 2020 and benefitting a community impacted by devastating tornadoes and a global pandemic, they are inspired to partner with others to continue to aid Music City in facing the many challenges that lay ahead in a city experiencing economic strains associated with Nashville's population boom.
"As caregivers, our concern for the well-being of our community extends beyond our hospital doors," added Tom Ozburn, president and CEO of TriStar Centennial Medical Center. "Through The Store, our care teams will have peace of mind knowing the community will have a resource close by that can help provide needed food and clothing."
To learn more about The Store or donate, visit https://www.thestore.org.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams-Paisley expand Nashville 'Store'
