Emergency Food Box Program

ENCM is an emergency food box satellite of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Approximately 500 food boxes are distributed on a monthly basis to resident households of 37206 and 37213. ENCM is one of the three largest food box distribution sites in Nashville. This program is designed to be a “hand-up” rather than a “hand-out.” As such, there criteria for qualification; that is, proof of address and proof of one’s SSN. This program can be used only three times per household every six month period.

In addition to the food provided by Second Harvest, Eaton’s Creek Organics, Publix, Kroger, Panera Bread Company, Provence Breads & Café also donate whole, perishable food to supplement food boxes and freely give to the community. Our member churches also donate food to help us meet the hunger need. Donations from all these agencies and our McCoy Memorial Garden harvest make providing emergency yet well-balanced food assistance possible.

Clothing Store

ENCM maintains a clothing closet to serve homeless, refugees, ex-offenders, group homes, and other social service agencies on a referral basis. All other persons pay prices under five dollars to purchase clothing items and household goods. Tuesday and Thursday, most clothes items are reduced to 25 cents. Purchasing goods for a small amount helps to provide persons with a sense of dignity and encourages responsibility. Without a steady flow of clothing donations from the community, the store would not be equipped to meet this most basic need of our neighbors.

Soul Feast

Most have heard the adage “giving a man a fish satisfies his hunger, teaching a man to fish satisfies his hunger for a lifetime.” Here at ENCM we believe that as Christians we are called to love our neighbors by both giving fish and teaching to fish. This is not enough. We are also called to eat fish with others—even those that are strangers—as our neighbors and our equals. One way we practice this at ENCM is around the table. This is less a soup kitchen atmosphere and more resembles the dining room table at home. This fellowship is called Soul Feast, and our member churches are encouraged to participate.

Emergency Assistance

ENCM provides assistance to people in need including personal care items, hats, gloves and blankets, infant formula and diapers, and meal boxes (for those who don’t qualified for the Second Harvest Program). ENCM also provides access to phones and referral services.

McCoy Memorial Garden

Behind and beside the Co-op is roughly 6,000 square feet of neglected space. The passion of former Director, Rev. Hunter Cummings, for an ENCM garden has finally manifested. The McCoy Memorial Garden is now a 4,000 square foot sustainably grown garden that will serve as a source of produce for the food bank, a recreational space for community interaction, and an educational forum for local gardeners and public school students. The garden was named so to honor the late Neely “Mac” McCoy and his wife Juanita Edith McCoy for their years of commitment to ENCM.

The Eden Project

The Eden Project is about fresh food and relationships. How do you assure fresh produce in every kitchen and encourage relationships? The answer is simple: two families, one garden, and a source for gardening and cooking wisdom: The Eden Project brings together one family that has a home garden with a family that wishes they had more produce. In the process, fresh food is exchanged, and both families are invited to community garden gatherings, gardening seminars, and on sight consultation.

The Elizabeth Project

Nutrition classes, cooking classes, child care, children’s music lessons, exercise, and pregnancy classes: put them together and you have what we’re conceiving of as The Elizabeth Project. Nutrition education alone is not attractive, but free music lessons, access to a gym, free food, and free child care are. How do you educate and empower young women to feed their bodies and their babies well? You bring them, their babies, and their partners to a meeting where all the said amenities are provided and you develop mentorships. Stay tuned for development on the Elizabeth Project.