Brad and Kimberly present families in need with a way to get gifts for their loved ones
It’s the season of giving and Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley are giving all they’ve got for those in need. The couple has opened a shop succinctly called The Store, which allows families to select toys for their children absolutely free of charge.
The couple gave a sneak peak last Thursday, with Paisley explaining the driving mission behind the store’s business plan. “The emotional aspect of being able to give your child something your child wanted versus just something to sort of get you through the holidays, that’s such a load off the minds of somebody who maybe didn’t think they were going to be able to do that,” said Paisley. During a two-day event that started on Friday, several select families got to experience some refreshing normalcy and the giving spirit of the holiday all while securing a way to give their kids a heartwarming Christmas.
It’s one of the most charming traditions that’s steadily disappearing: heading to a nearby toy shop and admiring the latest colorful lineup. For too many families, this is hardly ever a possibility even with such a charming shop nearby. But thanks to Paisley, Nashville residents will get their chance.
The Store has received some 2,000 donated items, around half of which came from the surrounding Nashville area. The Store is situated right next to a church, allowing parents to drop their kids off to play and drink hot chocolate. One building over, parents got the chance to buy all sorts of toys, video games, musical instruments, gadgets, scooters, makeup, stuffed toys, and more – all for free.
Currently, the free toy store is not a constant service available all year round; their food provisions similarly require more support. But Paisley and Kimberly hope that can change.
Kimberly and Paisley were inspired to set up The Store after seeing a similar model at the Unity Shoppe in Santa Barbara, California. They took that inspiration when, in 2020, a tornado struck the city; the resulting emergency situation was exacerbated by the pandemic. In particular, food insecurity became an even more pressing issue. The Store, which launched earlier that year, converted into a food delivery service and provided a million meals to senior citizens in just its first year of operation.
“People come on hard times and we want this to be a safe, welcoming place for everybody,” said Kimberly, “whether you’re volunteering or whether you’re needing the services. It’s just a community and we’re all in it together.”
However, she continued, “We’re still not serving everybody that we want to serve. Food insecurity is on the rise. The USDA just released its report saying 17 million households in this country are facing food insecurity and that’s on the rise from 2021. There’s so much we want to do. And really like the toy store has shown us that we can keep going and we can keep expanding and growing.” She has noted that The Store would need year-long donations to keep a constant supply of food for the community.
In the meantime, however, the couple is happy to give families the chance to choose goodies for their kids with dignity and peace of mind.
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