Showing Up: How Volunteers Are Powering The Store’s Growth

“This was the second week in a row I didn’t have to send out an SOS for volunteers.”

This was our volunteer director’s “high” from the week.

Sometimes a win sounds small until you know what it took to get there.

At our staff meetings, we always take a few minutes to share highs from the week. Some are organizational. Some are personal. All of them matter.

Not having to ask for volunteer help for a couple of weeks may not sound dramatic at first glance. But for our team, it was a big moment.

When we opened our second location at Centennial, our volunteer need doubled overnight. We went from needing 150 volunteers a week to 300. No ramp-up. No trial period. Just a bigger opportunity to serve and a much bigger need to fill.

We are incredibly fortunate at The Store to have exceptional volunteers from every part of our community. Active retirees. College students. Corporate teams. Neighbors who come back again and again because they believe in this work. There is a reason The Store was voted Nashville’s #1 volunteer opportunity.

But even with that support, doubling our volunteer base was a tall order.

In those early weeks, we leaned often on our volunteers-on-call, that extra-dedicated group of people who say, “If you’re short, let me know. I’ll make it work.” They showed up over and over again, and I am so grateful.

Now, something is shifting.More of our volunteer shifts are being filled weeks in advance. More people are stepping in. More organizations are raising their hands. We are seeing stronger momentum than ever before, and it is deeply encouraging.

That kind of growth does not happen by accident. It takes real effort, real partnership, and a community that chooses to show up.

Last week, I had the honor of joining HCA Healthcare at their Quality Summit as a guest presenter. I got to speak about one of my favorite topics: what it means to show up for your community, and how volunteerism can strengthen the bonds within a team.

I was speaking to a room full of leaders who already understand that.

And they have done exactly that.I have been inspired by how quickly HCA teams have moved from interest to action by attending Lunch and Learns, filling volunteer shifts, and setting up “Meet The Store” sessions across departments.

That is what community looks like.

That is what showing up looks like.

As The Store continues serving more families with dignity and choice than ever before, we will continue to need volunteers. So if it has been a while since you served a shift with us, we would love to welcome you back.

And if your office, church, or community group wants to learn more, we would be honored to come share what makes this volunteer community so special.I’m hopeful for the day when volunteer SOS emails are a thing of the past.

Thank you for helping us move closer to that day.