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.
Food insecurity is at a 10-year high, and our waiting list has nearly 2,000 families. But Nashville is stepping up. A second location of The Store is on the horizon — and with it, a chance to serve more neighbors with dignity.
More from The Store
“It Was Hope”: Ms. Kim’s Story Reminds Us What This Expansion Is Really About
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.
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How We Opened Our Second Location in Just 48 Hours
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.
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