News From The Store

With hunger at a 10-year high and food costs climbing, families in Nashville are facing impossible choices as critical benefits are slashed. A front-page story in The Tennessean highlighted The Store’s perspective on what this means for our neighbors—like the mom who feeds children at a daycare but can’t afford food for her own, or the server who delivers meals all night and comes home to an empty table. At The Store, we believe it’s unconscionable to take food from families already struggling to survive. This blog unpacks the reality of the “benefits cliff,” the growing crisis of hunger, and why proximity and shared values must guide how we respond.

Every week, The Store wrestles with an impossible question: With so many waiting for food, how do you decide who gets to come? Our CEO shares how we make these tough choices—prioritizing referrals from trusted partner agencies, managing a waitlist of over 2,000 families, and expanding to new locations so no one has to wait for a basic human need. This post sheds light on the heartbreaking realities of hunger, the importance of working together, and our vision for a community where no family has to wonder if food will be there tomorrow.

Across Nashville and beyond, nonprofits are facing unprecedented strain: steep SNAP cuts, overwhelmed food banks, and more families in need than ever before. At The Store, we hear it every day—the calls, the waiting, the heartbreak. But even now, hope is showing up.

In just one year, food insecurity in our region has surged—450,000 Tennesseans are now struggling to eat. And with recent cuts to SNAP benefits, the crisis is only deepening. At The Store, we’re feeling the impact. Our shelves are stretched. Our waitlist just passed 2,000 households. And yet—we’re not giving up.

At a recent “Meet The Store” session with our friends at CMA, someone asked: “What’s the one thing you need most right now?” The answer? Come volunteer. Just once. See the work in action. Because volunteering isn’t just helpful—it’s transformative. It’s how so many of our supporters found their way in: one shift, one connection, one moment that changed everything. At The Store, we’re building more than food security—we’re building community. And it starts with showing up.

That’s what one mom told us on graduation night—standing tall in her cap and gown after completing her training as a Registered Behavior Technician. What began as a quest to provide for her child became something much bigger: a journey of self-worth, confidence, and possibility. This is the power of partnership. Through our collaboration with Belmont University, TCAT Nashville, and The Family Wellbeing Program, customers at The Store are gaining more than just groceries—they’re gaining careers, community, and a renewed sense of purpose.

This year, The Store was honored to be named the top volunteer program in Nashville—a recognition we don’t take lightly. Volunteers aren’t just part of the mission. They are the mission. We’ve rounded up 8 lessons that have shaped our approach—principles we return to again and again. Whether you lead volunteers or are one, we hope you’ll find something useful in what we’ve learned (and are still learning).

Hunger is at a decade high—and the weight of that reality shows up in our waiting list: 1,883 households long. At The Store, we’re doing everything we can to meet the moment, and planning bold expansion to meet the need. But for now, the calls keep coming—and we carry them with hope.