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'The Branch of Nashville' helps the Antioch community with food pantry, English classes

Posted at 10:51 AM, Jan 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-03 14:23:13-05

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — All around Nashville, we see "Compassion In Action." For six years "The Branch of Nashville" has been feeding the surrounding community.

"Because there is a verse in the Bible that talks about the land. The land is like a desert and in this landscape a branch springs forth. And the branch is hope," said Executive Director Melissa Thomas. The Branch helps the people living in and around Antioch with a food pantry and English classes.

"We want to be a step on the journey to someone being self-sufficient," she said.

Thomas said what started as flood assistance quickly turned into so much more.

"I don't know what we would've done," said 77-year old Mary Dusek.

Dusek says, sometimes, life is just hard. Her husband died, she still works and even takes care of her adult son who is on disability.

"My car got stolen Monday and I was down to the last bit of my food in the refrigerator," she said.

She says without the pantry she would've gone hungry. Instead, the Branch drove the food to her home.

The Branch of Nashville and Mary Dusek each received a $1,000 gift card provided by Kroger as part of our "Compassion In Action" project.