The aim of country music artist Brad Paisley and his spouse, actress
Kimberly Williams-Paisley, was to enable underprivileged families to select
their own food in an environment like a typical grocery shop.
The Store is giving parents shopping for holiday gifts this year the same
dignity of choice. 400 families will shop in a free toy store filled with
brand-new toys, video games, plush animals, scooters, clothing, cosmetics,
and musical instruments over the course of a two-day event that begins on
Friday.
The emotional side of giving your child what they truly desired rather than
simply something to tide you over for the holidays, according to Paisley,
"is such a load off the minds of somebody who maybe didn't think they were
going to be able to do that."
Stephanie Brodie, a native of Nashville, registered at The Store while
serving as her mother's caregiver. The two of them liked going grocery
shopping to buy the goods they required for their meals. Since her mother
died away, she has been caring for her five grandkids, four of them are
younger than fifteen.
A much-needed help as she's trying to save money to fix a damaged stove
this year, Brodie and her granddaughter La'Delegant Hartsfield picked out
armloads of toys, musical instruments, beauty items, and clothes for the
family on Friday.
In observance of the Paisley family, Brodie, who was dressed in paisley
pattern, remarked, "It's a very much dignified process and it gives you the
freedom of choice." Therefore, we have a choice in what we teach our kids.
Additionally, we get to decide what to cook and serve, which naturally gives
you more authority.
Before the free toy store opened on Thursday, the Paisleys were given early
access and were awestruck by the abundance of toys, wrapping station,
Christmas trees, and festive décor. As they decorated and unpacked all the
donated toys, volunteers and employees from Belmont University and The Store
worked for hours, all the while enjoying holiday music.
The famous couple introduced the idea of a free food shop to Nashville
after witnessing the notion years ago at the Unity Shoppe in Santa Barbara,
California. Just a few weeks had passed after a tornado struck the city and
before the worldwide pandemic made food access an urgent concern when The
Store opened its doors in early 2020.
After making adjustments, the Store and its employees became an elderly
food delivery service, serving one million meals in its first year of
business. Every year, The Store holds an enrollment procedure. To be
eligible, a household's yearly gross income must be 200% or less than the
federal poverty threshold. Belmont University, from where Paisley graduated,
provides free groceries to low-income families in addition to other programs
including financial literacy classes, music therapy, and medication
administration.
Williams-Paisley stated, "People come here in difficult times, and we want
this to be a safe, welcoming place for everybody, whether you're
volunteering or in need of the services." "It's simply a community, and
we're all involved."
Whether it was a cooking class or homework assistance, Brodie claimed The
Store and Belmont provided her with a bridge to the resources she needed,
particularly in light of the rising costs of living in Nashville due to
taxes, inflation, and real estate prices.
"I adore Nashville." I do not wish to be ejected. And because of this, I
can now afford to stay here for an additional year," Brodie stated.
The store collected $20,000 by accepting around 2,000 donated products, of
which about half came from the First Responder's Children's Foundation and
the other half from the Nashville region. While the adults buy and have
gifts wrapped, parents may drop off their children at the church next door,
where they can play and enjoy hot chocolate.
The toy shop is intended to become an annual event, but Williams-Paisley
pointed out that The shop would require donations all year round in order to
feed its patrons.
"We're still not able to assist everyone that we would like to. The rate of
food insecurity is rising. According to a recent USDA estimate, 17 million
households nationwide experience food insecurity, and that number is
expected to climb starting in 2021, according to Williams-Paisley. We want
to do so many things. Furthermore, the toy shop has demonstrated to us that
we are capable of continuing, developing, and expanding.
Paisley acknowledges that this is his favorite time of year and even jokes
that he would wear a Santa suit to the toy store.
Paisley remarked, "This time of year is my favorite." "I kind of go all out
ever since we've had children, and maybe even before."
All rights reserved. Associated Press, 2023. All rights reserved.
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