NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Gallatin woman is stepping up her efforts to provide items to the homeless in downtown Nashville.
Now, she’s opening the door for anyone who has a desire to give.
Dannielle Thomas drives past Centennial Park every day on her way home. Normally, she stops by the park and provides food for anyone who needs it.
“I’ll stop by every now and then, give them some burgers or some chicken nuggets or something,” Thomas said. “God just put it on my heart to say, ‘Hey, these people really need help,’ and kind of gave me the ability to do so and just bless me with that. So I stop by almost every day after work to see what they need.”
However, recently she noticed people in need of things like blankets, sweatpants, gloves, face masks and more. So she put out an all-call to the community for anyone who wants to donate and help.
Thomas said she’s been overwhelmed by the number of people willing to help. She’s scheduled pick-ups for Saturday to grab jackets, blankets and hand warmers to help people deal with the cold weather.
Thomas moved to Nashville from Florida six months ago. While she said there is a homeless problem in Florida, here in Nashville, she feels like it’s triple the amount.
Thomas said that while she’s grateful to have a jacket or beanie, others do not. And it broke her heart to see people in the park bundled up with only sheets. But sooner than later, she hopes to change that.
“It’s kind of sad, and it breaks my heart,” Thomas said. “There’s a lot of people that feel the same. There are a lot of places you can donate. You can donate to Goodwill and places like that, but the homeless people have to go there and buy those things. Those things cost money that they don’t have.”
Donations like these are something Thomas likes to do year-round. Eventually, she wants to fill up backpacks and hand out necessities like toothbrushes and toothpaste.
“I feel like that’s really the thing that it comes from, it has to come from love,” Thomas said. “You have to want to do this and have it be a good thing. It shouldn’t be a thing that you’re forced to do by any means, but if you have it and you have the ability to do it, just get out there and do it.”
Thomas plans to pick up the items and hand them out personally. Anyone who’d like to donate can email Thomas at Dthomas1255@gmail.com or send her a message via Facebook Messenger.