Matthew 25 Staff Participates in Homeless PIT Count

Shown above is M25 Clinical Director, Libby Sides, and Senior Case Manager, Juanita Johnson. 

On one single night in January, Davidson County among other counties all across the country, participates in a Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. This is conducted as a way to engage and count every person experiencing homelessness (sheltered and unsheltered) in a single point-in-time.

During the PIT Count, we survey specific demographics, type of living, utilization of resources, and other important information. This information is used to ensure that we are receiving enough funding and effective services to alleviate homelessness in our county. We are proud to say that several of our staff participated in this important event this year: (1) our Executive Director, Jim Ward, (2) Clinical Director, Libby Sides, and (3) Senior Case Manager, Juanita Johnson.

"This was my 3rd year participating in the PIT Count. I love doing this, as I am able to literally meet people where they are in encampments, park benches, or tents. Also, I know the importance of this data in ensuring that we are filling the gaps in services and hopefully see a decrease in the overall number." — Libby Sides, Clinical Director.

Walk in the Woods 2024

We are pleased to announce our third annual Walk in the Woods fundraiser event!

Every day, Matthew 25 helps empower homeless veterans and men to achieve stability, obtain employment and secure permanent, sustainable housing. Our transitional housing program addresses root causes that led to homelessness, or has kept men homeless, and provides an opportunity for restoration, growth and community reintegration. 

Each spring, we offer an easy way to advocate for our ministry and support our men. Join us for our third annual Walk in the Woods on May 4! This fun and casual event allows you to personally connect with our staff and the men we serve, while also introducing you to like-minded supporters of our cause. Support the Walk by registering yourself, recruiting a team, or making a donation. Your participation will strengthen our ability to provide Housing, Help and Hope to those facing the despair and hardships of homelessness.

We look forward to furthering relationships with our current supporters and welcoming new ones here in our community. The Walk will demonstrate the impact of our work, as the men in our programs will walk alongside us, allowing you to hear their stories and better understand how we serve those who are striving to rebuild their lives.


Our work ultimately lights personal paths of transformation, and your engagement will uplift those yearning for a brighter future. We hope you will join us to remind our men that there are countless folks in the community who care for them, believe in them, and want to walk with them on their road to recovery.

Our Walk in the Woods Route.

Thank You from Our Men!

This holiday season, some of the men we serve wished to express their gratitude to our supporters. Without our community, we could not serve, uplift and address the personal needs of each man that comes through our doors. Use the button below to read some of the letters written by men in our Transitional Housing Program:

“Please know during this holiday season and beyond your support of Matthew 25 is crucial to the successful return to a life of normality for many guys. You pave the way with the practical needs of this house.”

“It is such a safe place and the staff here is very helpful.”

“We have a staff that wakes up every day to come and support us with any issues that we have. It is by the grace of God that we have a place to lay our heads.”

Matthew 25 Selected as Sedona Taphouse Charity of the Month!

We are excited to be a part of Sedona Taphouse’s Dine Out for Charity initiative! Each Monday during June, when you dine at their Nashville location, you are supporting our mission.


Details: 

Enjoy 50% off a great meal at Sedona Taphouse while doing your part for charity. For every HALF PRICE 8 oz. Black Angus Flat Iron Steak, 8 oz. Grilled Chicken, or 7 oz. Norwegian Salmon entrée sold, Sedona Taphouse will donate $2 to our organization!

Fine Print: You must dine in on a Monday and purchase a beverage, and the promotion is limited to one entrée per person. You can’t beat that!


This offer will be good for each Monday during June, so be sure to come out for lunch or dinner to support our work and meet our staff (we will be present from roughly 5:30-8pm). You can join our Facebook event, learn more about Sedona Taphouse, and check out the menu below.

Facebook Event Link

Sedona Website Link

2023 Walk in the Woods Recap

We are writing to express our gratitude for the invaluable support of our recent Walk in the Woods fundraiser event! The event was a resounding success, with attendance nearly doubling that of our inaugural walk last spring. Witnessing our community come together to rally behind our ministry and the men we serve was truly inspiring.

Thanks to our community’s generosity, we are thrilled to announce that we raised a total of $12,375! These funds will play a pivotal role in directly assisting men who are striving to chart their personal path out of homelessness. Every single day, we are working to providing these individuals with the necessary resources and support they need to recapture happiness, fulfillment, and independence. Each contribution is instrumental in granting these men the opportunity to reclaim their lives, and for that, we cannot thank you enough.

While the event site shut down this week, you can still support our work and learn more through our website. We have all sorts of volunteer opportunities, which not only enable you to actively engage with our cause but also serve as a means to become an advocate for our organization. By inviting individuals from your own circles to join you in volunteering, we can exponentially expand our network of support.

Another effortless yet impactful way to stay connected and updated about our progress is by following and interacting with us on social media. You can find the links to our various social media accounts at the links below. Should you have any questions, wish to volunteer, or express interest in seeing our work firsthand through a facility tour, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly.

Our community makes an lasting impact on the lives of the men we serve, and we are profoundly grateful for your compassionate commitment. Together, we can continue making a difference and empowering these individuals to build a brighter future. Thank you!

M25 Instagram

M25 Facebook

Matthew 25 to Build Herb Garden in Spring 2023

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Nashville Herb Society! The Herb Society is a non-profit, working organization whose grant mission to support gardens that enhance opportunity, awareness and sense of community by providing nutrition, wellness and education.

You can learn more about the Nashville Herb Society here: Nashville Herb Society

We plan to build a small herb garden on the patio of our residential facility this spring. It will serve as a source of pride, therapy, community and wellness for the men in our Transitional Housing Program, as it will be tended and kept by our residents. This garden will provide our men with knowledge, skills, enhanced nutrition, and a greater sense of community, as they learn and work together to maintain the garden. 

Gardening, for many people, is therapeutic for the mind, body, and soul. It takes people away from technology and reconnects us with nature. Sometimes, when veterans are out of the military, they continue to seek things they can have pride in, something that they are in control of. Gardening can be that for our residents.  This garden and the skills learned will be a new resource and growth opportunity for our men. Many have never had the opportunity to learn about herbs or gardening in general, and as new men are constantly entering our program, we envision this garden creating new interests and passions for those that we serve. 

Having an herb garden will also allow our kitchen staff to create more flavorful meals for all residents, as we serve 3 meals per day to up to 49 men. We plan to provide lessons on herbs, nutrition, and cooking skills to all residents, teaching them a garden-to-table approach to meals. In this approach, we will teach them to plant and tend to the herbs for when they are housed if they would like to continue that skill and passion after securing housing and personal independence.

We serve roughly 250 men per year in our transitional program. With our plan and the support of several master gardeners, we envision this garden lasting for years to come. We have confidence in our vision, and see this garden as a permanent part of facility.

Middle Tennessee MOAA Chapter Visits M25 Facility

Earlier this spring, the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) visited our men to present career development advice, such as interview skills, resume building, networking and more. They provided tangible guidance and direction for our men seeking to find employment or upgrade their career. 

This visit built on the Middle Tennessee Chapter’s donation of two desktop computers and printers, which occurred earlier this year. These purchases were funded through the generosity of the MOAA Foundation. We are so thankful for the regular support of the Middle Tennessee Chapter! 

Members of the MOAA Middle Tennessee Chapter

The updated Matthew 25 computer lab, featuring new desktops and printers.