CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Hands On Nashville collaborated with the local nonprofit Loaves and Fishes to take on an artistic project; painting a mural on an outside shipping container outside the facility.

Loaves and Fishes, located at 825 Crossland Ave., is a nonprofit that retrieves food from grocery stores, restaurants and individual donations to provide hot meals to members of the community. Hands On Nashville, powered by United Way, connects volunteers to opportunities in Middle Tennessee. Hands On takes on a quarterly project and this time chose to help Loaves and Fishes.

Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Other painted shipping container at Loaves and Fishes on July 24
Partially-finished mural on shipping container at Loaves and Fishes on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24
Volunteers at the Hands On and Loaves and Fishes Mural Painting on July 24

“They had these two storage containers that kind of just been an eyesore for them. And they said, we would love to have a mural and just kind of paint a fresh new look on there,” said Kristen Jaggers, manager of Hands On Long-Term Recovery in Montgomery County.

The art selected by the team was created by a student at Rossview High School’s Academy of Media Arts. Hands On partnered with the academy and their students to create a piece for the mural.

Partnering to give back

A few employees from Google helped to paint the mural. Google encourages their employees to participate in volunteer activities that give back to the community around them.

“This was a particular interest because of the artistic components. People were really excited about it, so we had a pretty good turnout from our group to help out today,” said Elizabeth Pezzello, an employee at Google.

Partners from Fortera Credit Union, CMCSS and Hands On also volunteered. “They’ll (Fortera) essentially have a bunch of opportunities for us and have volunteer time off where everybody gets to go out and do different volunteer work. … I was born and raised here, so I need to start being involved a little bit more, you know?” said Lauren Boone, an employee at Fortera.

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Coach Johnny Jackson, head coach for boys basketball at Rossview, brought the team.

“We’re just blessed and just wanted to give back to the community any way we can. I have a great bunch of guys, and they were willing to immediately sign up, and I think all of our slots were filled up just immediately. It was just something really good for us to do as a program just to give back to such a great organization,” said Jackson.

Several other volunteers stepped in to help as well.

“One of the really cool things we’re proud about is that you do not have to be affiliated with any particular group or organization to come volunteer with us. It’s open to the community. So we also have non-affiliated folks who’s heard about this opportunity who have come to volunteer as well. And so it’s really a nice depiction of just people who have a heart to serve and give back,” said Jaggers.

The mural was mostly finished Thursday afternoon, but work had to be put to a halt early due to the heat.

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