NASHVILLE — A local Sidney businessman attended a benefit in Nashville and made a big donation to the cause. The benefit was to help The Store feed children and families of the Nashville area.
Pam Egbert and La Donna Brewer-Capps organized the event with the hopes to help those in need at this time. Brewer-Capps met seven-year-old Thomas who told her he didn’t have any snacks for summer school and the other students did. This only confirmed the need for the money this show made.
Local resident Fred Wells, from Sidney, was performing at the show, and Aaron Wilcox, Victory Machine and Fab, attended the benefit to see Wells perform in Nashville. While at the show an auction was held, and he purchased the guitar autographed by Grand Ole Opry members and the cowboy hat Brad Paisley signed.
Laurie Honigford, Sidney, also purchased a picture painted and signed by Ronnie McDowell.
These purchases were far more than we ever thought we would get from the auction items, La Donna said. “This money will feed so many families who are in need.”
“Being able to sing in Nashville for a good cause is always a great feeling and having special friends from my hometown of Sidney, to attend and support the cause, says a lot about Shelby County Ohio!” Wells said.
“This benefit will help so many families,” Courtney Vrablik, executive director of The Store said. “With the rise in inflation, we have more and more families coming in asking for assistance. The money raised from this benefit will feed 350 families for two weeks. That includes fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and meat.”
Brad and Kimberly Paisley teamed up with Belmont University, which is Paisley’s alma mater, to create “The Store.” The Store will allow families who are referred by nonprofit and government agencies to shop at the grocery free of charge for one year.
Unlike receiving a bag of food, they may or may not need from a food bank, shoppers at the store will be able to select nutritious items they need. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and other organizations will provide the food to the shop. All of the foods at the store will meet dietary guidelines created by dietitians from the food bank.
“We worked on organizing this show since the end of 2021 and we are so happy to help 350 families with fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as everything they need,” Egbert said.
“To be on stage performing in Nashville and know the money was going to help to feed children who may go hungry was fulfilling. I have grandchildren of my own and I can’t imagine them missing even one meal because there was no food in the house,” Wells said.
