DRIVEN TO SERVE: Nashville food drive benefits Clarksville residents

It was meant to be a routine search for asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint.

But during this hazardous materials survey, it became apparent to TTL Staff Biologist Natalie Schroth-Sanchez that the then-ongoing government shut down stood to affect the residents of Lincoln Homes in Clarksville, TN.

TTL was contracted to support the upgrades and renovations to this Section 8-assisted housing development, meaning many – if not all – of its tenants also were being assisted through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the federal Food Stamp Program, and the food resources it provided.

With a mother who spent 30 years working for Head Start, Natalie immediately recognized the challenges these families were quietly facing.

“We were out there working and I’d be talking to residents outside,” Natalie said. “They never mentioned anything, but it got me to thinking of some small differences we could make, especially with the holidays coming up.”

That thinking led to ideas for a TTL-initiated food drive to help offset the needs of the Lincoln Homes residents.

With the help of Environmental Geologist Bri Shaw, Natalie turned to TTL’s Nashville team for help. Together, they found a group just as driven to serve these residents as they were.

A simple mass email asking for donations led to the arrival of pasta, shelf-stable milk, peanut butter, canned meats, and kid-friendly snacks.

All told, the Nashville team delivered more than 230 pounds of food to Lincoln Homes.

“We got a pretty good response,” Natalie said.

For Bri, this cause was personal.

A Clarksville native and graduate of Austin Peay State University, she grew up just minutes from the Section 8 housing community.

When conversations revealed that the end of SNAP benefits was creating real fear, especially for families with children, Bri felt compelled to act.

“We were trying to give back so they’d have enough to go to work and get through their daily activities,” she said.

When work demands made Natalie and Bri unavailable to make the delivery, Staff Geologist Mike Andrews came through in making the hour-long drive to drop off the donated items.

The residents, they said, were grateful.

“They were very appreciative of it,” Natalie said.

In a time when Americans are being judged for their decisions and opinions, Bri and Natalie said that they hoped stepping up to help their fellow citizens in need was able to send a much-needed message during the holiday season.

Getting to know your neighbor, helping out when able, and fostering a sense of community in the places we’re called to serve – it’s what being “Driven to Serve” is all about.

“Don’t judge people by their situation,” Bri said. “Get to know them and try to help.”

Natalie agreed.

“It’s always worth the inconvenience to help somebody out,” she said. “Now more than ever, it’s important to come together and keep that idea of community alive.”