Statements
Mission
To provide mobile showers, laundry, and hygiene supplies to those in need in Nashville.
Background
The idea behind Shower The People came from work the outreach work our founder, Russ Arnold, was doing with his church Green Street Church of Christ. Realizing that everything from boutiques to restaurants were being made mobile, he thought why can't we make a shower facility for those individuals who are experiencing homelessness. Russ purchased our 11-window school bus and began to retrofit it into two full private bathrooms. Shower The People now provides mobile showers and hygiene supplies to those in need throughout the city, with their focus on those who have the most barriers to access brick and mortar services already available downtown.
Impact
Now that the shower facility is complete and providing services, we are turning our goals into expanding our service area and adding additional hygiene services. In this new year Shower The People plans to: *Give approximately 160 showers per week *Obtain a second vehicle unit for mobile laundry services *Secure grants to assist with operating expenses. *Establish sponsorships of the bus to help with sustainability
Needs
Donations for operation costs which will be about $3628.00/month, which will supply more than 640+ showers per month to our friends on the streets of Nashville. These costs only cover program expenses since we currently have unpaid staff and have been given space for our supplies and bus. Volunteers who want to build relationships, assist with distribution of hygiene products, care for our friends needs, and launder towels as well as gathering hygiene products, sorting and packaging hygiene kits.
CEO Statement
Shower The People is here to help restore dignity and show love to so many who are hurting on the streets. Showers are not going to end homelessness, but they will take one of the biggest hurdles out of the way which prevent people from being able to get off the streets. A shower can change your day. A shower can revive your energy, promote physical and mental health, allow a person to feel like part of the community. Access to showers can open doors of opportunity such as jobs and housing. A shower can help change a life
Board Chair Statement
Our board is made up of individuals who are passionate about helping those in need. The majority of our board has dedicated over 17 years to working with the homeless population and understand the struggles they face on a daily basis. We understand that although a shower may not get someone into housing, it can still make a significant difference in someone's life. We have struggled with securing unrestricted funding as a new organization, but hope that the more work we do the easier that will become. We hope to one day be able to pay our staff who are making such a difference to those in need.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Homeless Services/Centers |
| Secondary Category: | - |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
Shower The People will serve many various areas of Metro Nashville and further if possible. Nashville has many people living on streets. We give access to as many as possible. We operate in the evening, giving additional access to people needing a shower. Also being mobile we will be able to get closer to where people are living instead of them having to overcome the extra hurdle of transportation.
| TN - Davidson |
