Between stringing lights, wrapping presents and having just one more little piece of pie, Hammock folks plan to also share their blessings with others less fortunate.
Several of us plan to attend the 85th annual Waffle Shop at Nashville’s beautiful and historic Downtown Presbyterian Church on Dec. 2, from 11 to 2. A major fundraiser for the church’s ministry among the homeless, the Waffle Shop has become the holiday power lunch in Nashville. City leaders rub elbows with students at the crowded tables. Get there early, since there is always a line!
Individual plans include:

Jamie: I am adopting a family through St. Luke’s Community House, a social services agency for a West Nashville neighborhood, as well as working a couple of nights with Room in the Inn (a program that provides homeless people with a bed and a hot meal at area churches during the winter months).
John: This year, our family is making donations to Second Harvest Food Bank in lieu of gifts to family and friends. Hannah and the girls and I will have the opportunity to participate in packing the food in early December.
Kerri: My girls do lots of different things through their school and other group affiliations. They have already delivered baskets to six families in a children’s home, and have provided cans for a food drive. We usually go in with a group to adopt a family or individual.
Barbara: We donate to the Angel Tree.
Lena: For the past few years, we’ve adopted a family through St. Luke’s Community House. This year, we’re helping out a family of four by putting gifts under their tree. My husband, David, also plans to run in the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon in December to raise money for the children’s research hospital.
Bill: My wife and I will do our annual stint with the Gallatin Rotary Club’s shopping with kids event. Last year the club bought presents and heaping shopping carts of food for more than 120 needy children. Some years, we have offered to deliver Meals on Wheels on Christmas and New Year’s to let the regular couriers enjoy the holiday.
Lynne: My son and I will shop to donate items for the Manger Store, which is set up by Graceworks Ministries in Franklin, TN. They help out many folks in Williamson County year around. The Manger provides gifts for the entire family. Parents may select gifts for each other and their children from thousands of donated gifts and have them gift-wrapped for free.
Megan: We donate to the Nashville Rescue Mission at the holidays and participate in an Angel Tree program through a local business.
Rex: Each year, our family participates in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. The Angel Tree tradition was started when our children were young. Even though they’re in their 20s now, my wife and I carry on the tradition. A few years ago, we started participating in a similar Secret Santa program with another organization–one in which we’ve been able to provide gifts for the same family each year and have even been able to visit with the parents and children. With no youngsters in our household these days (except our sweet 6-year-old neighbor, Caroline, who drops by to visit our two dogs and my wife several times a week), it’s fun being able to have a reason to check out the new toys with a specific young boy and girl in mind.
Natalie: Every year we prepare two gift boxes filled with toys and other items for our church to hand out to needy children. In addition, we always participate in the Angel Tree Program and various food and coat drives. We’ll continue a tradition that started last year by attending The Centennial Youth Ballet presentation of The Mini-Nutcracker. My daughters love to dress up for this special event.
Steve: There is an estimated 3+ years of cleanup and repair work remaining from the Nashville Flood – we’ll be knocking out a day’s worth the first Friday in December. On Black Friday we get up early, grab coffee, accompany my wife to see if there are any steals left – she is a professional at this, I just drive the getaway car.
Happy Holidays from Hammock!