Hundreds of Individuals, Groups, and Workplaces Provide Meals to Greater Nashville Families
In support of United Way’s Give Thanks Day of Action, hundreds of individuals, groups and companies provided 1,345 meal boxes and 225 additional gift cards to families in need throughout Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Robertson, Williamson, Houston, Montgomery and Stewart counties.
The boxes were filled with food needed for a traditional holiday meal, along with supplemental food to feed a family through the holiday weekend. United Way created the Give Thanks Day of Action to relieve the financial burden that many families face during the holiday season. Based on three meals a day, the average family of four receives $9.23 a meal through public assistance programs. The average cost of a traditional holiday dinner is roughly $60. That’s six times the amount a family has available to spend on a single meal.
“A staggering one in six children in Middle Tennessee lacks access to enough food to grow healthy and strong,” said Brian Hassett, United Way of Greater Nashville’s president and CEO. “That’s just unacceptable in a community as thriving as Nashville. We’re so grateful to our generous donors and volunteers who step up each year to provide meals for families who need it most. We’re especially thankful to Ingram Charities, Nashville Soccer Club and Piedmont Natural Gas for their generous support this year.”
On November 9th, nearly 100 volunteers gathered at GEODIS Park to organize and deliver meal boxes to schools and nonprofit agencies throughout Greater Nashville. The schools and agencies then distributed the boxes to families in need.
If you or someone you know is struggling to access food, please call 211 or visit unitedwaygreaternashville.org/211-helpline for help.