In the heart of Middle Tennessee, one food pantry is doing more than providing support to those in need; they are fueling hope through the gift of food. Committed to Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities, Atmos Energy has partnered with The Well Outreach for the past four years to Make a Difference and help our neighbors in need in the Spring Hill and Mount Pleasant areas.

“In 2020, when I was working for Atmos Energy in Spring Hill, I drove past The Well Outreach facility one Saturday,” said Josh Densman, vice president of finance. “They were holding a mobile drive-through, where people in need were driving up and having volunteers load their cars with groceries. I thought, ‘here’s an organization in one of our central hotspots where we know what they do, and if you look at their mission statement, it talks about the hunger needs of the community; plus, they have specific programs that are unique to children, so it kind of hits two of our FSTC pillars – hunger and children.’

Atmos Energy and The Well Outreach began a sustained and impactful partnership in 2021, with the natural gas company sponsoring the nonprofit’s Mobile Food Giveaways and JetPack Program.

• Atmos Energy has not only provided gifts of $3,000 to underwrite the Giveaways’ cost of acquiring food, which can total up to 20,000 pounds, but employees also regularly volunteer their time at local high schools to unpack and distribute the food. These “giveaway” events commonly serve 250-300 families with a full week’s worth of food, including fresh produce.
• During the school year, The Well Outreach’s JetPack Program provides weekend meals for students experiencing food insecurity. The Well Outreach provides more than 1,400 students at 25 schools with these supplemental meals.
• Atmos Energy has been a supporting sponsor of The Well Outreach/ Maury County Star Summer Feeding Program, so that meals could continue for these students while school was not in session.

“Thanks to Atmos Energy, these programs have now been sustained for three years,” says Shelly Sassen, CEO of The Well Outreach. “We rely on organizations like Atmos Energy that have at their core a heart of compassion. As we have been true to the ‘Outreach’ in our name, Atmos Energy has been true to the ‘Energy’ in theirs. You have fueled us and made the work of those hands and feet possible.”

Beginning as a food pantry at a local church in 2006, The Well Outreach started with a goal to show God’s love by giving food to those in need. In 2009, The Well Outreach incorporated as its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit and began expanding from there. The nonprofit serves food to more than 2,000 families a month in a client-choice, open-shop food pantry model. Food pantry guests have an opportunity to connect one-on-one in warm and inviting welcome rooms, where they are matched to needed resources, prayed for, and then paired with a personal shopper, who will help the guests with food choices for their families.

Atmos Energy supports The Well Outreach’s biggest fundraising events, two of which are February’s “Night of Hope” gala and the October “Whole Hog Festival”, which is the largest single-day event in Spring Hill.

“We always like to sponsor the ‘Night of Hope’ gala because not only is it a promotion of Atmos Energy in the community and financially assists the nonprofit, but it also encourages other local businesses to become involved,” says Christina Christiansen, manager of public affairs. “There are many area businesses that are willing to donate, once they see what Atmos Energy has done.”

As Shelly says, “From helping feed students in need over the summer months to being a title sponsor of this year’s ‘Night of Hope’ gala, featuring We the Kingdom, we are so thankful for your support so that together we can feed those in need!”

To learn more about The Well Outreach, visit www.thewelloutreach.org.