Hunger is Rising — but so is Hope

This past week has been a sobering one for those of us on the frontlines of food insecurity.

Feeding America released devastating news: hunger in our nation has reached its highest level in more than a decade. Over 50 million people across the U.S. are now experiencing food insecurity. And here in Middle Tennessee, our food banks are being stretched to their limits.

At Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, one of The Store’s key partners, the shelves are lighter than ever. They’re projecting a potential shortfall of 4 million pounds of food in the coming year. That shortage doesn’t just impact The Store—it affects hundreds of nonprofit and faith-based organizations working tirelessly to feed our neighbors with dignity.

At The Store, we feel the strain every single day. Our waiting list has grown to nearly 2,000 families—parents calling in tears, hoping for access to healthy food for their children. And as much as we long to say “yes” to every one of them, we currently lack the funding and capacity to meet the overwhelming demand.

But here’s the part that keeps me going: Nashville is a community that doesn’t back down.

We are builders. We are doers. And we are bound together by a shared belief that no one in our city should have to choose between rent and groceries.

That’s why I’m encouraged to share a glimmer of hope: The Store is finalizing plans for our second location, in partnership with TriStar Centennial Medical Center, Construction is expected to begin soon, with a projected opening in late 2025.

This new site will allow us to clear our waiting list, expand our reach to hundreds more families, and continue delivering our innovative, choice-based grocery model—where dignity, fresh produce, and wrap-around support come standard.

The challenge is great. But so is our resolve.

Whether you lead a nonprofit, serve a congregation, work in a boardroom, or simply care deeply about your neighbors—now is the time to pay attention. Food insecurity is rising, but so is our opportunity to respond with compassion, innovation, and unity.

Let’s not let this moment pass us by.

Nashville will rally—as we always do—and show what it means to be a city that refuses to let hunger win.