If you’re unable to afford to buy enough food and are considering turning to a food bank, we’ve featured 10 top food banks in Nashville, Tennessee in the list below.
1. Martha O’Bryan Center
The Martha O’Bryan Center operates one of the oldest community outreach programs in Nashville. Since its founding in 1894, this charity has seen to the needs of deprived neighborhoods in their area. Their food bank is open five days per week to provide pre-boxed allotments of groceries for families. Elderly recipients unable to make it to the center can arrange to have food boxes or daily hot meals delivered to their homes.
You can make a significant impact on food insecurity with a donation. Sign up as a volunteer if you prefer to give your time. Contact a staff member to see what else you can do to assist.
2. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
In 1978, community volunteers in Nashville established this food bank to help the hungry in their area meet their nutritional needs. These days, they maintain three warehouses where they gather donations and bulk food purchases. This food is later distributed to smaller food programs that may not have as much space to store items or the funds to purchase additional food to meet the ever-increasing demand on food banks across the state.
Second Harvest depends on donations, grants, and fundraisers to support its mission. If unable to provide funds, you can volunteer to help in the warehouse. Get in contact to learn more.
3. Bellevue Community Food Bank
The Bellevue United Methodist Church created this food bank as an outreach program in 1991. Once each week, they prepare bags of canned foods, dry goods, meat, dairy, baked items, fruit, and vegetables for anyone in need. Each distribution is intended for families with less than five people, but they are happy to increase quantities for those with larger households to feed. Recipients can visit every week.
If you want to help the church with its mission to feed the hungry, you can donate or volunteer online. Reach out to a member of the church staff if you have any questions.
4. Loaves and Fishes
Catholic Charities has been feeding the citizens of Nashville for more than twenty-five years through a network of partners who contribute and participate in their efforts to reduce food poverty. They prepare a community breakfast and lunch for the public three days each week, feeding hundreds of their neighbors each day they are open. Their meals are available to everyone without any requirements to prove residence or income.
You can donate online if you want to support this community outreach. Volunteers are always needed. Contact a staff member to learn more about how you can assist.
5. The Branch of Nashville
In the aftermath of severe flooding, concerned community centers realized the ongoing struggle of families in their surrounding neighborhoods. In 2013, they acted, founding The Branch of Nashville. This food bank is open five days a week to distribute groceries to thousands of residents who might otherwise go hungry. Aided by area businesses, churches, schools, and individuals, they make a massive difference in the lives of the people they serve.
Please make a donation, volunteer, or contact the staff to find out how you can join their fight against food poverty. Every little bit helps.
6. Nashville Rescue Mission
If you are hungry in Nashville, you can visit the Nashville Rescue Mission for a hot meal. This mission has been serving the homeless community by providing food, shelter, clothing, and other support since 1954, but you don’t have to be a resident to receive nutritional assistance. Their dining hall is open to all. They serve three hot meals a day, seven days a week. During the holidays, they also serve traditional celebration meals.
If you can donate or volunteer, you’ll be helping thousands of people in the Nashville area meet their basic needs. Contact the mission if you want to know more.
7. Christian Cooperative Ministry
In 1982, local churches banded together to form the Christian Cooperative Ministry. The goal of this organization is to provide supplemental food to help families experiencing food insecurity. They are open four days a week to distribute perishable and non-perishable food to all who qualify for assistance. They also provide a sack lunch to the homeless daily and aid those who want to sign up for government food assistance programs.
Donations and volunteers are always helpful in furthering the reach of this charity. If you want to learn more about their operations, get in contact.
8. St. Luke’s Community House
St. Luke’s Community House has been feeding members of the Nashville area for more than a century. Their food bank is open four days a week to provide a mix of perishable and non-perishable groceries meant to last for 2-3 days. Recipients can visit once per month on an appointment-only basis. Senior citizens can receive one hot meal daily through their meal delivery program with no distribution limit.
Want to help fight hunger? You can donate or volunteer online. Get in touch for any further information you would like about their mission.
9. The Store
The Store was founded by Brad and Kimberly Paisley in partnership with Belmont University. This free market provides a shopper-style experience that allows recipients to select their groceries from the shelves as they would at a regular grocery store. Recipients are eligible to shop each week during one of the three days The Store is open. Amounts provided to clients are based on their income and family size.
Additional information about this charity can be found by contacting a staff member. Information on how to donate or volunteer can be found on their web page.
10. The Nashville Food Project
If you are looking for a long-term solution to food insecurity, your goal is shared by The Nashville Food Project. Since 2007, they have provided food from their gardens and food waste reclamation programs to community meal partners across Nashville. They also offer chances for residents of the surrounding area to learn sustainable gardening and frugal cooking methods that allow them to grow their own food and prepare it in ways that make the most of it.
You can help this charity stamp out hunger with a donation. You can also volunteer to get involved in their project. Contact them to find out what you can do to help.
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