The Store, a free-referral based grocery store co-founded by Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley in the Nashville area in partnership with Brad’s alma mater Belmont University, debuted its first Toy Store over the weekend. Due to the outpouring of generous donations, The Store’s Toy Store was able to provide toys for all the families they are currently serving.
The Nashville community, sponsors, and corporations helped The Store collect more than 1,000 toys and donated $20,000 to prep for the inaugural event, along with the help of the staff and volunteers and the generosity of the First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF) donation, who fulfilled the additional 1,000 toys needed. The partnership with FRCF came through Brad’s record label group, Universal Music Group Nashville, who has chosen FRCF as its charity of choice the past three holiday seasons.
The goal of The Store is to give families the dignity to choose their own food. The same is true with the Toy Store.
“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,” Brad said to the Associated Press.
“People come on hard times and we want this to be a safe, welcoming place for everybody, whether you’re volunteering or whether you’re needing the services,” Kimberly shared. “It’s just a community and we’re all in it together.” Read the full AP story here.