HOW INSPIRITUS EMPOWERED MIDDLE TENNESSEE RESIDENTS TO CARRY ON DURING A PANDEMIC

COVID-19 PREVENTION KITS

This year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Inspiritus has distributed over 1,000 COVID Prevention Kits to our neighbors living in public and subsidized housing throughout Middle Tennessee. These kits include the basic essentials needed to help prevent COVID-19, which many households simply cannot afford to purchase during these hard times.

"This helps a lot...A LOT!" said Ms. Campbell upon receiving the tote with cleaning supplies, a thermometer, hand sanitizer, face masks and more. This distribution effort has been incredibly beneficial for many families who otherwise would not have access to these materials.

"I love the thermometer,” said a mother of four young children. “That is really going to help us."

Inspiritus has been able to provide these prevention kits throughout eight Middle Tennessee communities to help stop the spread.

"Many families are struggling right now, and these kits will help them be proactive in their health," says , Janet Arning, Inspiritus Middle Tennessee Regional Director.

Inspiritus was able to fund the kits thanks to a grant provided by the State of Tennessee, Cares Act funding, and a partnership with Second Harvest Community Foodbank.

If you would like to make a donation to support Middle Tennessee families, you can do so here and select Building Healthy Families from the drop-down menu.

INSPIRITUS NASHVILLE FOOD PANTRY

Gloria is a proud Nashville resident who has been participating in Inspiritus programming in her North Nashville community for nearly 10 years. In fact, she is one of the original 12 gardeners who started the Healthy Gardens program back in 2011, and thanks to the success of her and others, the program has grown far beyond her own neighborhood with nearly 200 Middle Tennessee gardeners participating annually.

For nearly a decade, Gloria has contributed in our Building Healthy Families Program, a support group for North Nashville women, focused on encouraging healthy life, family, and community building skills. After experiencing and witnessing first-hand the positive impact our programs had within her community, Gloria has increasingly volunteered and served her neighbors.

In 2020, COVID-19 stay at home orders and health protocols caused significant declines in volunteerism leading to the shutdown of food pantries and other nonprofit services across Middle Tennessee.

North Nashville locals, who themselves depend on Inspiritus programs, were determined to help keep our doors open to meet the rising needs of their neighbors, and increasingly of households from all over Middle Tennessee whose local food pantries were shutdown.

In 2020, Gloria has spent most of her days serving in our Nashville food pantry and assisting with other projects, including assembling and distributing COVID Prevention Kits.

Thanks to the determination and perseverance of our team, Gloria included, we were able to keep our doors open continuously to serve those seeking food assistance when many were forced to close.

If you would like to donate to support our Nashville Food Pantry, click here and select Building Healthy Families

MYCANVAS YOUTH ARTS PROGRAM

Our MyCanvas Youth Arts program is expanding! Although COVID-19 has impacted many of our MyCanvas workshops in the neighborhoods we typically serve, our new Family & Youth Program Specialist, Devon Billions-Gomez, is working to develop small family sessions at our Inspiritus Middle Tennessee program site in North Nashville.

“It’s important to address the unique challenges that children are facing in this tough season,” says Devon. “To provide consistent positive connection, we use therapeutic art to help the youth identify and cultivate their own resiliencies, and reduce stress responses. It’s my hope that these young artists gain tools to successfully cope with difficulty.” Our MyCanvas program has been proven to do just that.

Children within Middle Tennessee communities have had their lives turned upside down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between schools being closed and afterschool programs being cancelled, their routines are anything but. Unfortunately, this pandemic is only one hurdle the children we serve are facing during these trying times.

"During our fall break workshop, we saw many of our youth dealing with not only family death amid a global pandemic, but also processing civic unrest and racial injustice,” said Janet Arning, Inspiritus Middle Tennessee Regional Director. “We knew we needed more time and deeper connection with the youth of MyCanvas."

Inspiritus is committed to creatively reaching and empowering the children of Middle Tennessee on a journey from surviving to thriving. MyCanvas provides a setting in which children express difficult emotions through art, and are guided by art therapists through thought exercises that help them learn healthy coping skills, build self-esteem, and become positive influences in their local community.

If you would like to donate to support our MyCanvas program, click here and select MyCanvas from the drop down menu.