Shelters, volunteer groups and donors mobilize as recovery fund tops half a million

City leaders and nonprofit partners described a coordinated shelter and relief effort to help residents affected by the storm.

The mayor said Metro Schools partnered with Mercy Chefs and World Central Kitchen to distribute food, clothing and supplies at sites in the Pearl Cohn cluster. He said Nashville Soccer Club opened Geodis Park for families seeking warmth and charging stations while the Nashville Predators served "200, to 300 people yesterday at Bridgestone Arena," providing food, water, shelter and access to power.

On funding, the mayor said the Tennessee Valley Authority contributed $100,000 to the Winter Storm Recovery Fund and that Tractor Supply had made a donation (described in the briefing as $250,000). He said the fund was already "more than a half million dollars," and the city expected more donations to help residents with hotels, food, debris removal and home repairs.

United Way of Greater Nashville’s 211 hotline was handling requests; the mayor said the hotline had fielded 1,332 calls and made 2,027 referrals as of 9 a.m. He said nonprofit VOAD partners were identifying households in extreme distress, prioritizing seniors living alone and people with specific health needs.

Officials urged residents to use warming centers at the Fairgrounds Nashville, Bellevue Community Center, Madison Community Center and Southeast Community Center and provided a transportation assistance line for rides to and from shelter sites.