Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley have come up with an inspiring way to give back to the Nashville community. Working alongside Brad's alma mater, Belmont University, they are opening The Store, a food bank that's set up as a supermarket. The Store will feature both fresh and nonperishable food items donated by various organizations and will be available to those in need for one year, with a goal of serving 3,000 customers per year. The project is set to begin construction in 2019.
In an interview with The Tennessean, the country musician gave some real perspective on how common it is to find yourself fallen on hard times. "All of us are one unforeseen disaster away from rock bottom," he said. "It’s nice to think about a place where when that happens to someone, they can use it to get back on their feet." The Paisley family was inspired after volunteering at a similar organization called The Unity Shoppe in Santa Barbara, California.
Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley have found a wonderful way to give back to the people of Nashville.
Through their partnership with Belmont University, the couple is working on opening The Store, a food bank set up like a grocery store.
The couple was inspired to create a business with this model after volunteering at a similar venture, The Unity Shoppe, in Santa Barbara, California.
The couple decided to volunteer at The Unity Shoppe alongside their sons, Huck, 11, and Jasper, 9. After the boys were acting a bit spoiled, their parents wanted to set them on a more thankful, gracious path.
The experience got Brad and Kimberly thinking that such a program would work wonderfully for people who just need a little help getting back on their feet. They felt the Nashville community would really benefit from this extra resource.
Kimberly explained to People what role she feels The Store could fill: "So many people are making great choices in their lives. It’s not like they’ve made major mistakes, they just need a little extra help and we want to be a resource for those people."
Brad spoke with the Tennessean about the project, which is slated to begin construction in 2019.
"This is a grocery store with dignity for people who have fallen on hard times,” Brad explained.
Kimberly added that The Store aims to be one of many resources to get people back on their feet, calling it a "temporary Band-Aid on the road to self-sufficiency."
Fans of the couple were elated to see them using their influence to give back to the community in such an accessible way.
Many people who have worked in the arena of solving hunger issues on various levels chimed in with helpful suggestions and support for the couple and their venture.
There was some concern about the level of publicity attached to the venture and how that might affect those seeking its services. Brad and Kimberly have expressed their dedication to serving the community and preserving their dignity in the process.
For those who have fallen on hard times and gotten through with help from their community, their stories reinforced how important it is for others to get involved and help out.
Brad and Kimberly have stated that they intend to let the public know how they can get involved in The Store, and many fans are eager to donate their time and resources.
It's awesome to see celebrities using their status for good, and we applaud Brad and Kimberly for doing something special for their community. As the giving season approaches, it's important to remember all the ways we are so fortunate and how we can do more to help others who haven't had it as good.
