With the rising cost of housing, food, and living expenses, many neighbors in the Bellevue community need extra help. The Bellevue Community Food Bank works tirelessly all year long to ensure those neighbors are cared for and have the essentials they need.
“We are a community food bank, open to any of our neighbors who need food and essentials,” says the food bank’s director, Robin Dillon. We’re just here to help the community.” Dillion has been volunteering with the organization since 2021, where she oversees all operations and manages the food bank’s 30+ volunteers.
Volunteers work weekly to pack grocery bags filled with items that are distributed to neighbors in need, every Tuesday evening at the Bellevue United Methodist Church, where the Food Bank pantry is located.
“Everybody that comes through our doors gets a prepacked grocery bag filled with canned goods, prepared foods, and essentials,” says Dillon. “Through our partnerships with BELL Garden and Cul2vate, we’re able to provide fresh vegetables to all of our neighbors who come through the door.” Additionally, they receive items including fresh meat, bread, rolls, and desserts. Items such as diapers and baby food are also available, as well as dog and cat food provided by the food bank’s partnership with the Nashville Humane Association.
While the organization won’t turn anybody in need away, their service area is focused on helping those in Bellevue, West Nashville (37205), Fairview, and Pegram. They’ll gladly provide groceries to people outside of those areas the first time they come but will then work with their bilingual resource managers to help refer them to an organization closer to their area.
As a community-based organization under the church’s umbrella, the Bellevue Community Food Bank is not a separate 501(c)(3) and can’t apply for grants, so it relies on its partnership with Second Harvest and the generosity of the community for in-kind and financial donations.
Dillon says they always make sure that they have food for the 200+ people they care for each week, but their shelves are currently “on the bare side” as donations are dropping off due to the rising cost of food, housing, and other economic factors.
“Everybody wants to do something for the holidays, but because we operate for 12 months out of the year, we really need the community’s support every single month,” says Dillon.
The organization has an incredible group of consistent volunteers so for those looking to help, their real need is food and financial donations, especially at the beginning of the year and summertime. Currently, they are collecting items for holiday meals including canned vegetables, paper goods, baking ingredients/mixes, canned meats, stuffing, etc. Gift cards to grocery stores such as Aldi, Publix, and Kroger are always appreciated so they can purchase items to fill any gaps in donations.
A food donation collection cabinet is in front of the church under the covered entrance and financial donations and gift cards can be left with the church administrator Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or can be mailed to the Bellevue Community Food Bank at 7501 Old Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37221.
Any places of worship, businesses, community organizations, schools, neighborhoods, or civic organizations interested in hosting a food drive can contact Dillon for a list of most needed items at 615.212.9199 or BellevueCommunityFoodBank.org.
“We are a community food bank, open to any of our neighbors who need food and essentials. We’re just here to help the community.”