Program areas at Dream Streets
Kids ministry - we conducted our eighth year of our summer days program. This program is a free walk up camp that exists to ensure that no child goes hungry during out of school months. We served 1,000 meals to children during the program, and we hosted volunteers from 10 states to provide a high-quality camp experience. We also continued this year serving kids with our north Nashville after school program. This program is for elementary school children. We enrolled 30 students from robert churchwell elementary school. The program was focused on tutoring, social emotional learning, and fine arts activities. Additionally, we served over 2,000 meals each semester of the school year.
Students ministry - our student ministry continued to serve middle and high school students. The students met once per week for programming and mentorship.
Community outreach - we provided various resources to community members such as counseling, personal care items, utilities relief, and community wide holiday events. We also supported a local non-profit child care Center with grant funds to allow them to provide free or reduced child care to single parents.
Food ministry - this program remains one of our largest programs, especially with the rising cost of living in middle tn and record high inflation. We distributed 555,345 pounds of fresh groceries to over 43,745 individuals. We increased our food partners in the area and we now pick up food donations 24 times per week and distibute to 9 separate sites in West and north Nashville. Job readiness - this felony friendly program expanded to welcome impoverished males living in the 37208 area of north Nashville. Participates receive soft skill and job specific skill training for a variety of hands-on industries. Moms ministry - the moms program serves approximately 35 under-resourced mothers and their children by providing them with a weekly support group, supplemental groceries, and life skills classes. Programming includes goal setting, cooking classes, field trips, art activities and personal growth classes. Dream housing grant - the Dream housing grant program is a financial literacy and education program with the goal of moving minority individuals into first time home ownership. Enrollees are paired with a mentor and given requirements to maintain good standing in the program. They are provided with a monthy rent stipend to facilitate them paying down debt and establishing a savings account. At the completion of the porgram, some will qualify for a down payment matching grant. Transition housing - the james r brown transitional housing facility was opened january 2024 to house participants in the job readiness program and other individuals and familes in need of temporary housing. Transitional housing has become a crucial initiative in the current middle Tennessee afordable housing crisis. Tenants are charged rent based on their ability to pay.