To Serve More Families, We’ll Need More of You
Our new location at Tristar Centennial Medical Center will allow us to double the number of families we serve. But for that to happen, something else will need to double too.
Yesterday I had the privilege of joining the incredible Mary Martin from Hands On Nashville on Local on 2 to talk about a pressing need at The Store—and across our community: volunteers.
The Store runs on food and logistics.
But it’s powered by people.
We’re a staff of 10.
Our volunteer team? Over 4,000 strong.
Every bag packed.
Every cart walked.
Every smile at checkout—It all happens because someone showed up to give their time.
And when we open the doors at Centennial, the number of families we can welcome with choice, dignity, and care will depend on the number of volunteers willing to step into this work.
The impact is already extraordinary:
4,000 volunteers
300,000 hours given
Over $1,000,000 in community impact
Named the #1 volunteer experience in Nashville by Hands On.
That’s not just numbers.
That’s neighbors helping neighbors.
That’s what makes The Store more than a free grocery.
It’s a community of dignity and hope.
So yes—I’m a little nervous about what it means to open a second location.
But I also know something else: Nashville always shows up.
And with partners like Hands On, powered by United Way of Greater Nashville I trust we’ll meet this moment—together.
If you, your company, your church, or your family are looking for a place to serve—come join us.Together, we can build something lasting and real: A community that lifts up its neighbors with love at the core.
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.
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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