In the midst of the bustling city that is Nashville, homelessness remains a consistent and heart-wrenching issue. Amidst the crisis, there are shining beacons of hope and compassion for those who face homelessness. One nonprofit in particular, Shower the People, is dedicated to restoring humanity and showcasing compassion, one mobile shower at a time.
Shower the People has been operating since 2017, when a group of members from Green Street Church of Christ purchased a bus and transformed it into a safe place where those who need it are welcome to come and have access to showers. The bus pops up at several different locations throughout the week to make the showers even more accessible. They also give out free pairs of undergarments and socks as well as offer laundry services to those who need it.
Meredith MacLeoud, Shower the People executive director and co-founder, is one of the many dedicated people that make the organization possible.
“I always like to make sure that people remember the folks we serve are not lazy,” says Meredith. “A lot of them have some mental health issues, or disabilities, or things out of their control that have led them to be homeless, and just remember that when interacting with them.”
The bus is a 1990 International 3800 school bus with two full private bathrooms on board and the ability to connect to the hydrant system. Additionally, the bus can catch/carry 200 gallons of water for when a hydrant system is not available.
The bus appears at four different locations throughout the week. Currently, the bus can be found at Trinity Community Commons on Tuesdays from 4:30-6:40 p.m., the Oasis Center on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, Belmont Church from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Fridays at the City Road Church in Madison from 6-9 p.m.
Wherever they go, people show up.
Typically, the nonprofit serves approximately 100-120 people a week between the four locations, and currently provide laundry services for 12 families. On top of that, those involved with the organization are trained social workers and equipped to help them through the trauma they have undergone.
“We are just a safe space for people to come to and I feel like we have to be,” says Meredith. “They feel very comfortable telling me they need help with food stamps, or that they’re ready for recovery, or if they’re in a domestic violence situation once they’ve kind of built up that trust with us.”
Ending homeless is not something that can be accomplished overnight. However, with organizations, such as Shower the People, it’s a step in the right direction. With guidance and a support system, the journey becomes easier and their seemingly small acts of kindness go a long way for those with whom they interact. Despite the organization’s name, Shower the People offers more than showers to those in need.
“We do a lot of housing navigation although we’re not housing navigators, we also do a lot of resource navigation although we’re not resource navigators,” Meredith says. “Our goal is to just make people’s lives a little better when we are not with them, whether it’s from giving them hygiene supplies, or give them a shower, or help them figure out this stress of applying for food stamps or something like that. I always tell people I always have a hard time telling people no if it’s a hard thing they’re asking. So as long as we can do it, we’ll do it and if we can’t, we will find someone who can.”
While Shower the People does not have any fundraisers coming up, they are focusing on their winter push, which Meredith references as “Making Nashville a Kinder, Warmer Winter.” This push is centered around on gathering more supplies. Getting these supplies are the organization's biggest expensive as they provide nearly 100 pairs of underwear and socks to those in need on a weekly basis.
They also always appreciate some extra helping hands.
“We can do so much more if we had more people,” says Meredith. “But people need money, so obviously funding would enable us to hire more people and make a bigger impact.”
Shower the People reminds people that in the face of homelessness, that there is hope, one shower at a time.
info@showerthepeople.net
ShowerThePeople.net