Statements

Mission

The Store community empowers and dignifies low-income families and the elderly who are seeking self-sufficiency by providing choices for food.

Background

The Store is inspired by Unity Shoppe, located in Santa Barbara, California. Unity Shoppe has been helping families in the community for more than 100 years. Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley first visited Unity Shoppe with their sons. "We took our boys to Unity Shoppe to teach them about serving others and giving back to people in need," says Paisley. "And we came away surprised by what the organization had taught us. Most people don't want handouts. They want dignity and respect. Most people want to become self-sufficient." They were so inspired by the way Unity Shoppe empowers people, including volunteers, that they wanted to expand on that model here in Nashville. The Store is its own unique spin on a free grocery store that offers a healthy food shopping experience.

Impact

The Store is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit referral-based program that will offer a variety of foods that will help individuals strive for healthier lives through choice, dignity and sustainability. The Store does not, and shall not, discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status, in any of its activities or operations. Our goal is to serve at least 3,000 people a year.

Needs

The Store completed construction January 2020 and opened to serve the Nashville community March 12, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for services, including the delivery program to elderly Davidson County residents and weekly curbside fulfillment, has grown exponentially. Donors are encouraged to give monetarily to meet this increased food cost demand.

CEO Statement

"This is a grocery store with dignity for people who have fallen on hard times," said Brad Paisley, president of The Store's board of trustees. "All of us are one unforeseen disaster away from rock bottom. It's nice to think about a place where when that happens to someone, they can use it to get back on their feet.'
"While we look forward to returning to our original model of operations once the pandemic is over, we are grateful to be able to support Nashville with our adjusted Covid response model until the danger passes," adds Executive Director, Courtney Vrablik

Board Chair Statement

"The majority of people are completely misguided about what poverty and hunger look like," said Megan Zarling, chair of The Store's board of trustees. "Most people look at hunger like you're walking the streets or you're walking into a homeless shelter. That's simply not true, especially this day in time. Hunger looks like you and I and one paycheck away from not being able to go to the grocery store. Studies show the last thing you pay for is food."

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Food, Agriculture & Nutrition  - Food Banks, Food Pantries
Secondary Category:	Food, Agriculture & Nutrition  - Food Programs
Tertiary Category:	Food, Agriculture & Nutrition  - Nutrition

Areas Served

TN - Davidson