Photo: Getty Images
Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley celebrated the opening of The Store’s second location on Wednesday (January 14).
Paisley and Williams-Paisley co-founded the nonprofit organization in Nashville, Tennessee, aiming to inspire their sons, now ages 18 and 16, to get “into service and get them out of their bubble, and help them understand that there are hungry people in the world,” per Williams-Paisley. The family volunteered at Unity Shoppe, a free supermarket in California, and went on the establish The Store in Tennessee. The organization “offers a free, referral-based grocery store to empower families and individuals in need,” with a “unique model” that “emphasizes dignity and choice, allows customers to select from a variety of fresh produce, healthy meats, dairy products, and pantry staples while catering to different dietary needs,” states a press release.
The new second location of The Store is on the TriStar Centennial Medical Center campus, located on the ground level of the center’s B garage at 311 23rd Ave North. The existing location, which has served thousands of families over the years, remains open at Belmont University’s campus. The new storefront, which will also provide emergency clothing and shopping trips for those referred by Centennial staff, is “possible through generous corporate and private donations,” states the release issued Wednesday. “The opening of the second location will provide the opportunity to more than double the number of families currently being served.” More than 3,100 volunteers helped serve customers of The Store last year.
“We are very thankful to TriStar Centennial and to all of the wonderful individuals and corporations all over the country providing financial support for this mission,” Williams-Paisley said in a statement. “We also couldn’t have done this without the hundreds of volunteers assisting our staff to help make this all come together. Together, we aim to help our customers get to the place where they won’t need The Store anymore, where the next time we see them will be when they come through our doors as one of our volunteers. That’s our dream.”