Hygiene is a Human Right.
The Community Resource Center stands on the frontlines, arming our partners with the tools to fight shame, restore dignity, and change lives all across Middle Tennessee.
What began as a simple wishlist in the local newspaper—asking for basic hygiene items to help our neighbors in need—uncovered something far greater: an unmet community need and a silent crisis.
The CRC is Nashville's go-to resource for essential hygiene product needs
More than 100 nonprofit agencies across 7 counties in Middle Tennessee rely on the CRC to provide thousands of hygiene and cleaning kits throughout the year. The CRC manages this from its own 5,000-square-foot warehouse and office space in Nashville at which product is received, stored, packaged and distributed.
From simple wishlist ad to 100+ partner hygiene powerhouse
In 1985, the Community Resource Center was born from an idea- a wishlist ad, published in the Tennesseean, a local newspaper, asking community members to donate basic household items for people in need. This small ask opened up the doorway to unveiling a hidden crisis- hygiene poverty.
For more than 40 years the CRC has become Nashville’s lead agency in times of crisis, and the nonprofit community’s go-to resource for ongoing essential product needs. Today, the CRC assists over 100 partner agencies and is in over 400 locations across Middle Tennessee.
1985
Newspaper Ad in the Tennesseean is published asking for the public’s assistance donating household items
2010
In 2010, when devastating floods struck Nashville, the Community Resource Center quickly mobilized to deliver essential hygiene and relief supplies, supporting our community through a critical time of need
2020
Covid-19 challenged the operations side of the CRC. The CRC had to find a way to continue meeting the needs of the community throughout lockdown
2024
The CRC distributes 1.7 million products to partner agencies
2025
The CRC is on track to distribute over 2 million products to partner agencies
We stretch every dollar we receive.
We stretch every dollar we receive. Because we can buy at scale, we are able to pool donor funds and purchase items in bulk, sometimes via large-scale liquidation sales, at much lower cost than our partner agencies could afford themselves. By partnering with manufacturers, distribution centers and retailers (both at the corporate and local level), we acquire new merchandise at no cost.
"The CRC secures essentials so our partners can focus on changing lives, not collecting supplies."
40+ Years of Fighing Hygiene Insecurity in Middle Tennessee
"The CRC secures essentials so our partners can focus on changing lives, not collecting supplies."
Support the CRC in its fight against hygiene insecurity today!