A. O. Smith announced the donation of seven tankless water heaters to Nashville-area nonprofit, The Journey Home. The donation supports the unhoused population in Rutherford County as they work toward independence and full reintegration into the community

The Journey Home’s primary focus is to provide practical resources, services and programs to encourage stability in all aspects of life. The organization supports community members as they achieve lasting change, helps them set goals and enhance their life skills, addresses their health and self-worth, and secures jobs and stable housing. The organization’s new 20,000-square-foot facility, expected to open in late 2025, will provide access to numerous resources for the community, allowing The Journey Home to expand its impact in the local area.

“Our current building was built in the 1940s and has very poor water volume. Right now, we can’t run the dishwashers and the showers at the same time. Thanks to A. O. Smith, our new facility will have ample hot water supply, immediately,” said Scott Foster, executive director of The Journey Home. “We often take hot water for granted, but it is a big part of our everyday lives, as well as The Journey Home’s daily operations. Being able to provide showers throughout the day may seem like a small thing to some, but it makes all the difference for the people we serve. We couldn’t be more grateful to A. O. Smith and their support of our mission.”

The new A. O. Smith tankless units will provide abundant hot water for the community cafe, commercial kitchen, laundry center, wellness clinic, shower stalls and more. Additionally, they will support the hot water needs of 10 short-term family housing units. The tankless units were chosen because they are designed to heat water when it is needed, providing on-demand supply throughout the facility. Tankless water heaters are also incredibly efficient, decreasing the financial burden of running a facility of this capacity.

“The Journey Home operates only an hour from our Ashland City, Tennessee, headquarters, making them a part of our community. We are impressed by the dedication and hard work of everyone at the organization. It’s an honor to be able to support their mission in the way we know best—by providing one of the most essential resources–hot water,” said Steve O’Brien, president and general manager of North America Water Heating. “The Journey Home has managed to do a lot with a little for such a long time. We’re honored to be part of this next chapter of the organization's story.”