Brad Paisley And His Wife, Kimberly, Turn Their Nonprofit Nashville Grocery Store Into A Toy Store At Christmas

Bringing the holiday cheer in a very special way.

Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, co-founded their charity initiative The Store, in 2020, which is a completely free, referral-based grocery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

They provide dignified access to food and other support services for families facing food insecurity, operating like a regular supermarket with volunteers and offering services like music therapy and financial literacy. It’s designed to remove the shame out of getting donations and food assistance, letting people “shop” with choice, and also runs seasonal programs like a toy store for holidays.

In fact, the Paisley’s were first inspired by the idea after they noticed their kids needed to get out of their bubble, so to speak, and see that not everyone lives the same kind of lifestyle they’re used to having two very famous parents.

Their family first volunteered with their children at Unity Shoppe, a similar free supermarket in California, laying the foundation for what would become The Store in Nashville. They took the concept and translated it for the neighbors in music city, and one of the coolest programs they do is the aforementioned toy store for Christmas, where kids can come in and pick out the toys and presents they want.

During a recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Paisley explained more about the concept and how special it is to give back at Christmas. He called it the “most magical thing” he’s ever been part of:

“This actually was born out of this idea when our kids were acting a little spoiled at Thanksgiving one year, and we discovered a charity in Santa Barbara called Unity Shoppe, which is similar.

So we set up this thing in Nashville, called it The Story, so that it would have the dignity that comes with shopping with choice and making decisions for your family and being able to say, okay, we’re going to the store, and it’s very normal for a kid. Then we started to make it a toy store at Christmas, where kids can come in and pick their toys out.

It’s the most magical thing I’ve ever been part of. It’s been really rewarding, especially this time of year, to just see these people in need come through and be able to get what they need.

It’s incredible to think of how many kids will have fond Christmas memories because of their work, instead of remembering the years they woke up with nothing under the tree, or maybe no tree at all.

Brad’s wife, Kimberly, recently shared footage from the Toy Store experiences for the kiddos, where they had over 1000 kids came through to pick out their favorite toys, with many chose gifts they wanted to give away to their loved ones.

They also had over 600 volunteers help make it possible, where they also wrap the presents and get them ready for Christmas morning, and of course, it was supported through many generous donations from people in the community and other sponsors:

“Our third annual Toy Store was a big success this weekend! Over 1000 kids came through to pick out their favorite toys, and many chose gifts they wanted to give away to their loved ones.

We had 600 amazing volunteers who helped our staff make this happen. Thank you to our presenting sponsor Sams Club, and to all of the donors who sent financial gifts and toys. It took a village, and you all are magic!!”

There are so many children who go without on Christmas, which should be the most magical time of the year for them, and it’s beyond cool to see how the Paisley’s are giving back in this way, and helping families celebrate Christmas with dignity and joy. It will just about make my cry thinking about it. No kid should wake up without a present to open on Christmas morning, and it’s hard to put into words just how special it is that the Paisley’s do this every year.

Their work with The Story is of course year-round, but it’s extra special this time of year and they deserve a ton of kudos for all they to help the Nashville community:

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He spoked more about their initiative in the interview below.

The post Brad Paisley And His Wife, Kimberly, Turn Their Nonprofit Nashville Grocery Store Into A Toy Store At Christmas first appeared on Whiskey Riff.