In the heart of Nashville, a beacon of compassion shines: The Store, a free grocery initiative founded by country star Brad Paisley and actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley. But it’s not just what they’re giving—it’s how—that makes this endeavor so powerful. Here, food isn’t handed out, it’s chosen, and that choice feeds more than just the body; it restores dignity.
While many food pantries offer pre-boxed staples, The Store is firmly rooted in empowerment. Patrons shop in a real grocery-store setting, selecting fresh produce, meats, dairy, household essentials, and even items like greeting cards or flowers, tailored to meet personal, cultural, and dietary needs. This model grants agency-customers aren’t just recipients, but respected participants in their care.
From its inception, The Store has projected both humility and aspiration. Inspired by volunteering alongside their children at Unity Shoppe in California, the Paisleys envisioned a place where “most people don’t want handouts. They want dignity and respect. Most people want to become self-sufficient.” That vision became reality when The Store opened on March 12, 2020, partnering with Belmont University and supported by volunteers, students, and charitable partners.
Every year, The Store serves over 1,000 households and delivers more than 600,000 healthy meals, supported by 15,000 volunteer hours. A remarkable 98% of shoppers choose fresh produce, 100% choose foods or items not typically provided by conventional food banks, and 82% select items to accommodate cultural or dietary preferences, simple metrics that reflect nourishment of body and soul.
Yet dignity extends beyond groceries. Through partnerships, such as with Belmont, The Store offers wrap-around services including legal aid, healthcare clinics, financial planning, cooking classes, and more, reinforcing that support extends beyond an aisle. Families not only shop but also learn, grow, and connect to tools that carry them toward a stronger future.
The Paisleys are also expanding the reach: a second location is underway at TriStar Centennial Medical Center, fueled in part by their own $1 million contribution toward a $5 million goal. It’s a step that will allow The Store to serve even more neighbors with the same heart-forward philosophy.
At The Store, aid isn’t just provided, it’s tailored, tender, and transformative. In Nashville, that means neighbors are fed with dignity, and in return, hope, and community, flourish.
To learn more or get involved, visit thestore.org.
The Paisleys envisioned a place where “most people don’t want handouts. They want dignity and respect. Most people want to become self-sufficient.”