Nashville is absolutely a city that cares about its people! We’ve talked about People Loving Nashville, who not only feed the homeless but spend valuable time getting to know them on Monday nights in the city. We’ve talked about this Saturday’s Project Photo Connect, where you can come hang out and enjoy music while the homeless are treated as special guests and have their portrait taken. (We will be there lending a hand!)
Now there’s another way to support efforts to help the homeless: Project 615. From their website…
Project 615 is a charitable organization that is doing it’s best to raise awareness for the homeless community in Nashville, TN. We raise money by selling our apparel and host benefit concerts to be able to give back to our homeless brothers and sisters.
We have partnered with a local homeless shelter called Set Free Nashville (located downtown Nashville a few blocks from LP Field) that houses 30-40 homeless men at one time. There they receive a bed, shower, 3 cooked meals and an opportunity to receive rehabilitation, not only physically but spiritually through Jesus Christ.
Not only are their t-shirts awesome, but they are having a fundraiser on Sunday, April 17th at 7:30. $10 at Exit/In. Check it out!
Have you met our community members? You’ve seen their faces on our home page. You’ve read their names on our site. Take a few minutes to read about each person and be inspired by the unique ways in which they are Giving Back. They inspire us every day!
We will be adding a few people to the list in the coming weeks, and thought we would introduce you to one today. Ryan Lampa founded People Loving Nashville, a group that gathers on Monday night to care for the homeless by providing not just food for them, but the nourishment of conversation and of love. Read on, and consider joining them some time. It’s the best thing happening on a Monday in the city, by far!
Meet Ryan Lampa
In the hot summer of 2008, a man named Ron living on a stoop changed the way Ryan looked at the homeless community forever. This stoop was a stones throw from Ryan’s front door. After sharing stories about each other’s worlds, eye’s were opened. The homeless community of Nashville became something Ryan could no longer ignore. In the cold months in November of 2009, Ryan and a group of friends got together to make a few meals for a few hungry folks in downtown Nashville. That cold night would end up staying with that group of friends. A fire was lit in each of their hearts to get involved in feeding those in need of a meal in their very own community.
Goals of getting together once a month turned into a weekly gathering of friends feeding friends. Starting on the first Monday of 2010 a group of people get together to feed and clothe those in need in Nashville and continues to do so today. The group follows biblical teachings of giving and serving and works hard not to mess that up. The element of community is great amongst the group, both those who serve and those who are being served. The group stands to meet needs as they arise, and to promote a spirit of giving and serving through community. It is fully a team effort from gathering donated food, to compiling clothing, cooking the food and preparing to serve those in need.
The group would not operate if it weren’t for the community giving of their efforts, finances and mostly their hearts. It is truly a miracle to watch the pieces come together every Monday and how those pieces then split off to go back home and continue to love in their own ways. The group is currently moving towards expanding to outreaches with other parts of the community. Including visiting those in prison, assisting with children with unstable families, helping those who have been widowed and being with those that are sick.
For more information on how you can get involved please visit www.peoplelovingnashville.com.
To be inspired by people like Ryan, check out the other community members on GivingBackistheNewBlack!
