Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley Provide 400 Families with Holiday Gifts Through Free Toy Store

This holiday season, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley are giving back even more than usual.

After launching Nashville's The Store in 2020 to provide free groceries to families experiencing poverty, the couple expanded the initiative over the weekend with a free toy store that aimed to make gift-giving easier for those in need this holiday season.

On Friday, the Associated Press reported The Store was holding a two-day event where 400 families were able to shop for toys, video games, plush animals, scooters, clothes, makeup and musical instruments — continuing the organization's goal to help Nashville residents living under the federal poverty line.

Paisley, 51, told the outlet, "The emotional aspect of being able to give your child something your child wanted versus just something to sort of get you through the holidays, that’s such a load off the minds of somebody who maybe didn’t think they were going to be able to do that."

The free toy store was set up by volunteers and staff from Belmont University and The Store, who also provided shoppers with a wrapping station for the approximately 2,000 items donated by Nashville residents and First Responders Children’s Foundation. While parents peruse the store for gifts, their kids can hang out at a nearby church to play and drink hot cocoa.

"People come on hard times and we want this to be a safe, welcoming place for everybody, whether you’re volunteering or whether you’re needing the services," Williams-Paisley, 52, told the AP. "It’s just a community and we’re all in it together."

While the spouses hope to make the toy store a repeat occurrence, Williams-Paisley noted The Store needs donations throughout the year to continue providing free food to Nashville residents in need.

"We’re still not serving everybody that we want to serve. Food insecurity is on the rise. The USDA just released its report saying 17 million households in this country are facing food insecurity and that’s on the rise from 2021," she said. "There’s so much we want to do. And really like the toy store has shown us that we can keep going and we can keep expanding and growing."

In April 2021, the couple spoke to PEOPLE about delivering nearly 1.3 million meals during The Store's first year. "This has been our dream," said Williams-Paisley at the time. "People will be able to come and shop with dignity and make choices for their family."