A mighty mission is at work in a small, unassuming building on Hickerson Street in Manchester. The Storehouse Food Pantry is a place for community members in need to gather groceries, but it’s also a space where love, healing, and community come together. For the families who make it all possible, this work is as much about filling hearts as it is filling stomachs.
Storehouse’s founder, Staria Davison, established the pantry with one goal: to feed the community and work toward ending hunger in Middle Tennessee. She had no idea that her vision, with the help of her husband, Bill — a disabled veteran with a heart as big as her own — would grow into what it is today.
Laurie Campbell, Storehouse’s vice president and a founding member, remembers when they started in 2018.
“I got a phone call from Staria asking if I wanted to volunteer with them,” Laurie began. “She was working at the recovery court at that time, and she was giving food out — out of a driveway. It might have been once a week.”
It was a modest operation back then, feeding about 50 families a week. Now, six years later, Storehouse serves over 300 families in Coffee, Bedford, Cannon, Franklin, Grundy, and Warren counties every Thursday in just two short hours.
A family ministry
For Laurie’s husband, Jackie, Storehouse became a part of his life after retirement in March of 2023. At first, he kept his distance, offering support through Laurie but staying behind the scenes. That quickly changed.
“I retired in March of 2023, and at first, I had nothing to do with the Storehouse other than listening to Laurie talk about it,” Jackie shared with a chuckle.
But soon, he found himself lending a hand on distribution days, and before he knew it, he was fully immersed — picking up donations, moving supplies, and fixing things. Jackie’s “yes, ma’am” mentality and knack for fixing whatever needs attention have made him a valuable part of the team.
Jackie and Laurie’s daughter, Emily, joined the mission in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shifted gears from her previous job to lend a hand and now serves as the administrative assistant.
“I didn’t go back to work and started helping out here instead,” Emily said. She keeps detailed records of Storehouse’s rapid growth, ensuring they’re always ready to meet the increasing demand.
For Laurie, the pantry is a ministry that has unified her family.
“God knew what He was doing,” she reflected. “This ministry brought us all together as an immediate family with the same purpose. It’s been a blessing.”
Bigger than food
Storehouse is a food pantry and a safe space for connection and healing. On any given Thursday, the building comes to life — volunteers of all ages and walks of life work side by side, greeting families, handing out boxes, and exchanging words of encouragement.
“We’re like a small family,” Staria said. “We try to encourage even our volunteers because we have volunteers who may be needy in this area. So we try to meet the needs on the inside as well as the people we serve on the outside.”
Laurie proudly described the diversity of their team.
“We have some people that come as volunteers who have mental challenges. We have volunteers from Tennessee Promise. We have men and women who may have made a mistake come in and get their community service hours. It’s just a place of healing. People who come through the line to get a food box may have a personal need, and it seems they just open up to us.”
Every Thursday begins with a short devotion and scripture, setting the tone for the day. Throughout the morning, volunteers listen, pray, and encourage those they serve. Sometimes, Emily will radio her mom with special prayer requests she hears from families outside.
“Someone may need prayer or specific help, and we do everything we can to meet that need. It’s not just about handing out food — it’s about being a light,” Laurie said.
Along with providing food, the team strives to meet whatever need arises, whether it’s spiritual support, resource guidance, or something more. Each week, as families come through the line or reach out by phone, the team works to connect them with the help they need.
Staria, often the first point of contact, uses a network of connections to make sure no one falls through the cracks. If Storehouse can’t meet a need directly, they do everything possible to point people toward the right place for support.
A village of generosity
The Campbells are quick to acknowledge that Storehouse’s success wouldn’t be possible without the entire community. Local businesses like Publix, Save A
Lot, Walmart, and Dollar General donate food, and the commissary at Arnold Air Force Base secures food for the pantry making sure nothing goes to waste.
“We’ve even partnered with Dot Foods’ Neighbor to Neighbor program,” Laurie said.
The Neighbor to Neighbor program is one of Dot Foods’ most impactful charitable efforts, designed to fight food insecurity in the communities where their employees live. Through this initiative, local food pantries like Storehouse can select specific items from Dot’s product line and have them delivered directly by Dot Foods employees. It’s a true “neighbor-to-neighbor” support system, bringing essential supplies and a personal touch to those in need.
Volunteers and donors of Storehouse often come through word of mouth. “We’ve had people show up simply because they heard about us at a gathering,” Laurie explained.
Her advice for those wanting to get involved? Come on in. There’s always room for one more.
Looking ahead
As Storehouse grows, the Campbells remain focused on preserving its identity as a family-oriented mission that serves with love and grace.
“There’s always going to be struggling, there’s always gonna be the poor, there’s always gonna be the needy,” said Laurie. “There’s always going to be a widow, but there’s always going to be people that will try to meet those needs.”
