Giving Back Through Food – Even Virtual Food Drives Help Tremendously
Article by Julie Brown Patton
Originally published in Brentwood Lifestyle
Holiday seasons traditionally have been invaluable times for soup kitchens for those short on food. With lingering health precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, food drives have become popular and even more essential to the cause. Food banks are distribution hubs that supply food to soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters, and those representatives are in need of food supplies.
Check out these initiatives that Brentwood Lifestyle identified for those who want to help make sure fewer local people go hungry, especially between now and year’s end.
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
This food bank team distributes more than 35 million pounds of food per year, including more than 10 million pounds of fresh produce. They receive food donations from local grocers, manufacturers, local growers and farmers and food drives. Non-perishable food items to donate can be dropped off in the Second Harvest Food Bank donation barrels in front of local Kroger stores, or taken to the group’s distribution center at 331 Great Circle Road in Nashville. Regular office hours for food donation drop-off are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Anyone also can host a virtual food drive to gather needed food items. See details at SecondHarvestMidTN.org/Act/Donate-Food.
WOODMONT BAPTIST CHURCH
This faith-based organization distributes food to people in emergency situations. They acquire food products through donations, canned food drives, food bank programs or direct purchase. Food is distributed on Tuesdays between 10 a.m. to noon; Food Pantry Team members hand food bags to vehicles of those in need. They’re located at 2100 Woodmont Blvd., just north of the Green Hills Mall on the corner of Hillsboro Pike and Woodmont Blvd. For details about needed items, call 615.297.5303.
CHARIS MINISTRIES
This group deliberately helps people with unexpected, urgent shortfalls and no transportation, as well as those in poor health, to get the food necessary to survive. They’ve been delivering food for 20-plus years. Call 615.373.1261 to determine how to donate.
FOOD PANTRIES NEAR BRENTWOOD:
- Catholic Charities/South Nashville Family Resources Center, 2195 Nolensville Pike, Door 5, Nashville; 615.834.1944
- Mid Cumberland Community Action Agency, 129 West Fowlkes St., Suite 136, Franklin, 615.790.5789
- The Branch of Nashville, Inc., 41 Tusculum Road, Antioch; 615.752.5941
- GraceWorks Ministries, 104 Southeast Parkway, Franklin; 615.794.9055
- Bellevue Community Food Bank, 7501 Old Harding Road, Nashville; 615.212.9199
- Kayne Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, 1025 12th Ave. South, Nashville; 615.255.5528
The Samaritan Soup Kitchen is located at 1041 28th Avenue North in Nashville and serves Davidson County. They need all types of canned goods. Soup Kitchen hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to noon; call 615.329.1523.
