NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Several small businesses are volunteering their time to renovate a north Nashville church for free.
Mt. Carmel Baptist church on Monroe Street was built in the 1930s. Last summer, Bishop Marcus Campbell was approached by a Mt. Juliet resident, Lesia Goddard, who wanted to help his church after she watched a Newschannel5 story about Campbell's summer youth camp. The camp had grown over the years and Campbell was no longer able to feed the children on his own.
"She's a sweet lady, the first time she came out and seen the summer program she's like 'Oh my God, you do have 200 and some kids.' She said you need a lot of help," Campbell said.
This week, Goddard and her husband teamed up with the ten businesses to redo the church's community hall floorboards, two restrooms and paint walls.
"They want to be a part of something that is being a blessing to other people and that's something that overjoys me," Campbell said.
"He is doing so much good work and we have got to help him and we can't let this church go away. He's saving our city and our city is so sad. My husband and I are fourth generation Nashvillians. We have to come together and help people like Bishop Campbell who are helping our youth. In the Bible it says to much is given much is expected," Goddard said.
The project is estimated to cost about $42,000. Campbell said he hopes to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony early next week to thank the volunteers.
The businesses include 84 Lumber, J & J services Dumpsters in Nashville, J & J Plumbing in Mt Juliet, DAS Electric Mt Juliet, Goddard Construction Co, J Premier Company Mt Juliet, 31W Insulation, Ferguson’s Kitchen & Bath, Air Systems in Smyrna, Rite Rug-James Bates, and Victory Baptist Church in Mt Juliet.
