News From The Store

At the ribbon cutting for The Store’s second location, it wasn’t a CEO or a founder who delivered the most powerful message—it was Ms. Kim, a grandmother, customer, and volunteer whose story left the crowd cheering and in tears. In this blog post, we reflect on her honest, moving testimony about the emotional weight of food insecurity and the relief she found in dignity, choice, and community. Her words grounded the moment and reminded us: this expansion isn’t just about square footage—it’s about doing more, sooner, for families who deserve more than survival. They deserve support wrapped in compassion—and a future filled with hope.

What began as a tight deadline and a few unforeseen hurdles became one of the most inspiring moments in The Store’s journey. In this blog post, our CEO reflects on the whirlwind 48 hours leading up to the ribbon cutting of our second location—with support from city leaders, volunteers, contractors, and community champions who made the impossible happen. From an empty space in a parking garage to a fully stocked grocery store serving neighbors with dignity and choice, this is the story of what happens when a community refuses to wait to meet a need. The ribbon may be cut, but the work is just beginning.

This week, The Store opened the doors to its second location - three times the size, built with care, and designed to serve more neighbors across Middle Tennessee. But this expansion is about more than just space. It's about restoring dignity, offering choice, and building a community where every person feels seen and supported. In this reflection, we share what this new chapter means for the families coming off our waitlist, for our team, and for the community that continues to show up with love and generosity.

At The Store, our 10-year plan isn’t just strategy—it’s people. That’s why we launched the Young Professional Board: a hands-on, impact-driven leadership experience for emerging leaders ready to take on food insecurity in bold, creative ways. With applications now open for our third cohort, we’re calling on Nashville’s next generation to step up—and lead with heart.

With our second location set to open at TriStar Centennial Medical Center, The Store is preparing to double the number of families we serve—and that means we’ll need to double something else: volunteers. In this post, we reflect on the incredible power of our 4,000+ volunteer community, and the vital role they’ll play in making our next chapter possible.

With construction underway on The Store’s second location and a $1.8 million goal still ahead, there’s no time to spare. This post is a personal call to action—from clearing calendars to opening doors for 2,000 families still waiting. Learn why this moment matters, and how you can help bring it to life.

With over 2,400 families on The Store’s waiting list, every signature, envelope, and handwritten note becomes more than a task—it becomes a promise. In this behind-the-scenes look, we share how a stack of 400 letters is helping move a capital campaign forward, one personal connection at a time.

The morning after Nashville’s Got Talent, the real magic began—calling families from our waiting list to welcome them into The Store. Thanks to the $218,000 raised, more neighbors will shop with dignity, access fresh food, and feel the impact of a night that was so much more than entertainment. Here's how your generosity is already changing lives.