Brad Paisley and Wife Kimberly’s Free Grocery Store Receives $1.5 Million Tennessee Grant

Brad Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, are set to open a free grocery store and the couple recently learned that “The Store” will be getting some major support from the state of Tennessee.

According to Belmont University, The Tennessee Department of Human Services has awarded the incoming Nashville-based facility, dubbed The Store, and its nearby Belmont Ministry Center, with a $1.5 million 2Gen Family Wellbeing Program grant.

Funds from the grant will go to help families in need with food and services that include nutritional and pharmacy education, health screenings, legal aid clinics, mental health counseling and music therapy. Belmont plans to also grow the ministry center and its services to further support low-income community members and patrons of The Store.

“This grant is the glue that is bringing the work of The Store and the Belmont Ministry Center together in a way that will help us both have the biggest impact possible on the people in our community,” The Store Executive Director Gina Hancock said in a press release.

Created by the Paisley’s, in collaboration with Brad’s alma mater Belmont University, The Store’s purpose is to provide fresh and nonperishable food items to low-income families and individuals at no charge. Select patrons will be referred by nonprofit and government agencies, and those who qualify will be able to acquire groceries from The Store for one year.

“This is a grocery store with dignity for people who have fallen on hard times,” Paisley said during the project’s official announcement, according to The Tennessean. “All of us are one unforeseen disaster away from rock bottom. It’s nice to think about a place where when that happens to someone, they can use it to get back on their feet.”

Paisley and his wife broke ground on The Store in early April. Currently, The Store is under construction and is expected to open in early 2020.