Free Toy Store Helps Needy Families
2023-12-12
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1Four years ago, country music star Brad Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, helped create a free food store in Nashville, Tennessee.
2Their goal was to give families in need the ability to choose their own food in a place that felt like a normal store. They named it The Store.
3The Store is a partnership with Nashville's Belmont University, where Paisley earned his degree.
4The Store is turning into a free toy store ahead of the Christmas holiday. The event began Friday.
5For two days, chosen families could pick out new toys, video games, stuffed animals, makeup and other gifts.
6Paisley said, "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."
7Paisley and Williams-Paisley brought the idea of a free food store to Nashville after seeing a similar effort in California.
8The Store launched in early 2020.
9Its opening came just weeks after a powerful tornado hit the area and shortly before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
10The pandemic made food access an urgent problem.
11The Store changed its methods to meet people's needs.
12It turned into a food delivery service for older people.
13It delivered one million meals in its first year of operation.
14Along with the food store, Belmont University also offers additional services to families in need.
15They include financial education and music therapy.
16"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," Williams-Paisley said.
17"It's just a community and we're all in it together."
18For this year's toy store event, The Store received about 2,000 donated objects and raised $20,000.
19Volunteers and workers from Belmont University in Nashville spent hours opening and organizing all of the donated toys into different areas.
20Parents will be able to drop off their kids at a religious center nearby, where they can play and drink a hot chocolate.
21The adults can pick out gifts at the same time.
22Paisley said Christmas is his favorite time of year.
23He said he might even visit The Store dressed as Santa Claus, the make-believe person who brings gifts for children on Christmas.
24"I live for this time of year," Paisley said.
25"Ever since we've had children and possibly even before, I kind of go all out."
26I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Four years ago, country music star Brad Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, helped create a free food store in Nashville, Tennessee. Their goal was to give families in need the ability to choose their own food in a place that felt like a normal store. They named it The Store. 2The Store is a partnership with Nashville's Belmont University, where Paisley earned his degree. 3The Store is turning into a free toy store ahead of the Christmas holiday. The event began Friday. For two days, chosen families could pick out new toys, video games, stuffed animals, makeup and other gifts. 4Paisley said, "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." 5Paisley and Williams-Paisley brought the idea of a free food store to Nashville after seeing a similar effort in California. The Store launched in early 2020. Its opening came just weeks after a powerful tornado hit the area and shortly before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic made food access an urgent problem. 6The Store changed its methods to meet people's needs. It turned into a food delivery service for older people. It delivered one million meals in its first year of operation. 7Along with the food store, Belmont University also offers additional services to families in need. They include financial education and music therapy. 8"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," Williams-Paisley said. "It's just a community and we're all in it together." 9For this year's toy store event, The Store received about 2,000 donated objects and raised $20,000. Volunteers and workers from Belmont University in Nashville spent hours opening and organizing all of the donated toys into different areas. 10Parents will be able to drop off their kids at a religious center nearby, where they can play and drink a hot chocolate. The adults can pick out gifts at the same time. 11Paisley said Christmas is his favorite time of year. He said he might even visit The Store dressed as Santa Claus, the make-believe person who brings gifts for children on Christmas. 12"I live for this time of year," Paisley said. "Ever since we've had children and possibly even before, I kind of go all out." 13I'm Gregory Stachel. 14Kristin M. Hall reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 15__________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17aspect - n. a part of something 18load off someone's mind - idiom to allow someone to stop worrying 19tornado - n. a violent and destructive storm in which powerful winds move around a central point 20access - n. a way of being able to use or get something 21delivery - n. the act of taking something to a person or place 22therapy - n. the treatment of physical or mental illnesses