WHAT: Metro Social Services, citywide food and coat giveaway held in conjunction with Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee and Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church
WHEN: November 8, 2025
WHERE: 2200 26th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee
Quick FAQs
- Given away: 500 food boxes, 500 food bags, nearly 500 bags filled with protein (3lb bags of chicken, jumbo packs of hot dogs). Each person received at least 1 box, 1 bag, and a bag of protein. Boxes and bags were filled with items like flour, bread, rice, tuna, sugar, noodles, beans, cooking oil, Hamburger Helper, and much more.
- Each box contains enough to last most recipients (depending on family size), at least three weeks.
- Recipient count = of the nearly 500 recipients, 105 recipients drove from neighboring counties
- 50 people arrived at the event on foot and received a free ride home with their food from the MSS shuttle service
- Event was to start at 8 a.m. however, more than 200 vehicles wrapped around the block, spilling onto Clarksville Highway starting as early as 5 a.m.
- MSS started the giveaway a little ahead of the start time due to the large response and to avoid traffic concerns.
- 400+ coats for kids were given away on behalf of event partner Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church
- The idea of the MSS Food Pop Ups started as a result of data found in MSS' annual Community Needs Evaluation Report that discovered:
- 1-in-10 Nashvillians is food insecure
- 1-in-5 Nashville children don't have enough food to eat
- Half of Nashville workers earn below a living wage
Food Pop Up Recipient Data
Majority of today's recipients were 56 years and older:
Age
- 56+ = 53%
- 46–45 = 17%
- 36-45 = 14%
- 26-35 = 11%
- 18-25 = 5%
Currently Receiving SNAP Benefits?
- Yes – 50%
Do You Need Food Assistance After Today's Giveaway?
- Yes – 82%
- No – 18%
Seniors and Disabled who pre-registered for delivery due to no transportation
- More than 100 calls to schedule a delivery
- 81% of scheduled deliveries for those 70-years-old +