Local businesses are putting meaning behind the phrase "Nashville Strong."
Not only did they have to grapple with the deadly storms that blew through the city in early March, but now many businesses have been forced to temporarily close their storefronts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's enough to make some throw in the towel, but others are finding ways to put their empty buildings, unused resources, and free time to good use by helping those in need.
From aiding those who have lost their jobs to feeding overworked medical personnel and first responders, these are the ways some Nashville businesses are giving back to the local community—and how you can help.
Ole Smoky Distillery
Ole Smoky
Ole Smoky Distillery is inviting the community to come together to support local industry workers through their Bartender Takeover Series kicking off on Wednesday, April 22. In collaboration with the United States Bartender's Guild (USBG), the takeover will feature bartenders from on-premise partners demonstrating how to make signature Ole Smoky cocktails like the Hunch Punch Lemonade and Peanut Butter Old Fashioned. During the Facebook and Instagram Live sessions, viewers will have the opportunity to join the distillery in contributing to the USBG which is committed to advancing the lifelong stability and wellbeing of service industry professionals through education and charitable activities. For more information visit facebook.com/olesmoky.
Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp will be providing gift cards to front line workers impacted by the Safer at Home order until they run out of funds or people in need. They have also partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to fund hourly hospitality workers, and in return feed those in the community that are experiencing food insecurity. Chefs from various restaurants across the city including Sean Brock, Matt Bolus, David Jackman, Derek Brooks, Mark Rose, and Margot McCormack will all prepare to-go meals in their respective kitchens and Second Harvest will then coordinate with Sysco to pick up and distribute the meals to partner agencies. Those agencies, including Hillcrest United Methodist Church, Martha O’Bryan Center, Elevate Madison Ministry, Catholic Charities, and Hermitage Hills/Radical Hearts will put the meals in the hands of those who visit their organizations.
Fat Bottom Brewing + Friends
Fat Bottom Brewing
Fat Bottom Brewing, Nashville Soccer Club, Renasant Bank, and Anchor Investments have all teamed up with The Nashville Food Project to launch a grocery box initiative called the Community Cupboard. The project will provide both food supplies and meals to local artists, musicians, and hospitality workers experiencing job loss or food insecurity due to COVID-19. Each grocery box includes an average of five days worth of groceries including meat, dairy, eggs, and fresh fruit and vegetables. For information on how to receive a grocery box, email thehopyard@fatbottombrewing.com and to donate, visit thenashvillefoodproject.org/communitycupboard.
Do615
Do615
Do615 has announced its DoStuff Amplification Project which will award $1,000,000 in promotional media to those who are not able to make a living through their normal businesses due to COVID-19. Including but not limited to, the bartenders hosting virtual cocktail hours with virtual tip jars, the local bands who are live streaming from their homes, comedians doing stand-up from their living rooms, and all those who are making, building, and creating and just need a platform to reach more people. Those who wish to apply can do so through a simple application process. If granted, Do615 will promote their business endeavors through its website, daily email, and social channels. For more information and to apply, visit dostuffmedia.com.
Project 615
Project 615 has launched several new campaigns to benefit and support those who have been impacted by COVID-19. The company has created four t-shirts, which will provide masks, meals, and funds to those in need with every purchase made. Proceeds from each t-shirt will either go to benefit healthcare and essential workers in Middle Tennessee, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, MusiCares, or the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. For more information and to purchase a t-shirt, visit project615.org.
Kimpton Aertson Hotel
Kimpton Aertson Hotel
Kimpton Aertson Hotel in partnership with the Buckingham Foundation has announced a double benefit program to support those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Nashville. The first part of the benefit relief efforts will provide complimentary hotel rooms at the Midtown hotel, located just steps away from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, for medical workers and first responders. To be eligible, medical personnel must present proper identification and email info@aertsonhotel.com to make a reservation. For the second part of the benefit, Kimpton Aertson and the Buckingham Foundation have partnered with The Nashville Food Project to turn the hotel's restaurant, Henley into a satellite kitchen to provide daily meals to local communities in need.
Cracker Barrel + Sony Music Nashville
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel in partnership with Sony Music Nashville has announced the launch of the 'There's Comfort in Giving' program, which will donate meals and pay-it-forward to healthcare professionals in the HCA Healthcare system. Country music star Chris Young will kick off the program with a live stream performance on the Cracker Barrel Facebook page on Sunday, April 26. In addition to Young, who will remain involved throughout the campaign, participating Sony Music Nashville artists will include Adam Doleac, Jameson Rodgers, Matt Stell, Mitchell Tenpenny, Niko Moon, Rachel Wammack, Robert Counts, Seaforth, and The Sisterhood Band. Other participating country artists will include Scotty McCreery, Pat Green, Eli Young Band, and Maddie & Tae. Many artists will host performances on their social channels as well as engage on Cracker Barrel's channels to help provide comfort and entertainment to those at home. Each Sony Music Nashville act has chosen specific hospitals that hold special meaning to them to receive meal donations.
Only One Tailoring
Only One Tailoring
Aaron McGill of Only One Tailoring along with a group of local tailors and sewers has teamed up to produce face masks for medical professionals. The masks have already gone to various hospitals around the city and have even made their way to nursing facilities in Western Kentucky. McGill and the team have vowed that as long as there is a need, they will continue to create masks for the medical workers in the community. For more information and to donate, visit onlyonetailoring.square.site.
Otaku Ramen + The Lee Initiative
Chef Sarah Gavigan of Otaku Ramen and the Lee Initiative have activated a local partnership to support those who have lost their jobs in the hospitality industry due to COVID-19. Gavigan's team will serve up to 250 meals per day, Wednesday through Sunday out of Otaku To-Go on Gallatin Ave. in East Nashville. Pick up times will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. through contactless pickup and will run until May 31.
We Are East Nashville
Supplied
WeAreEastNashville.com is selling t-shirts and other donated goods from artists in the local community. We Are East Nashville is 100% volunteer-driven with 100% of proceeds being donated to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The non-profit's goal is to raise money and be a resource for Nashvillians in their efforts to support their community. For more information or to purchase a t-shirt, visit weareeastnashville.com.
Also Organics
Also Organics
Nashville's newest CBD brand, Also Organics is donating bottles of its newly formulated CBD-infused hand sanitizer to local doctors and nurses on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. While supplies last, interested consumers can also obtain Also Organics' hand sanitizer for free by requesting the product on the company's website.
Hop Springs Beer Park
Hop Springs Beer Park has launched its "Hospitality Strong" beer to support local hospitality workers and their families who are experiencing unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each case of beer is $22 with $2 from every purchase going to #hospitalitystrong care packages.