Showing Up for Our Neighbors This Summer
It was such a joy to be back with the generous and enthusiastic Carole Sullivan on Today in Nashville yesterday.
We covered a lot in a short amount of time—our expansion, volunteering, the incredible Taylor and Travis gift, and all the ways our community continues to show up for our neighbors.
But the conversation that has stayed with me most is what summer means for so many families.
When school is out, school meals disappear. Parents are stretching already tight budgets even further while also preparing for back-to-school expenses. Right now, 1 in 5 children in our community is experiencing food insecurity, and summer can be one of the hardest seasons for families.
I’m grateful we had the opportunity to share a few tangible ways people can help.
On July 25, we’ll host our School Store at Coleman Park Community Center, helping families prepare for the new school year with dignity. We’re collecting new, high-quality backpacks, water bottles, and lunch boxes to help stock the store.
We’re also facing a critical shortage of volunteers in August. As families return to school and demand remains high, we need caring volunteers to help welcome and serve our neighbors during one of our busiest times of the year.
I’m thankful for Carole and the Today in Nashville team for creating space to talk not just about what The Store is doing, but about the needs our neighbors are experiencing and the many ways this community continues to respond with generosity.
I’ll share the link to the segment in the comments. Whether you’re already serving our community in countless ways or are looking for another opportunity to get involved, we’d love to have you join us this summer.
A conversation on Today in Nashville became an opportunity to highlight both the challenges many families face during the summer months and the many ways our community can help. Collen reflects on why this season matters, from supporting children through the School Store to welcoming volunteers who make it all possible.
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