When a community embraces unity, powerful things happen. White House residents exemplified this truth, raising over $20,000 in 20 days to provide Steele Nelms with a service dog. Steele is a five year old boy with autism who is mostly non-verbal. His mom, Jenna Nelms, says that this swift reaction astonished her and husband, Matt. 

Jenna works for White House’s Planning Department, and Matt serves on Hendersonville’s Police Department, so they are both quite involved within these north-of-Nashville communities. “I’ve moved around a lot, having been in the Navy. Never have I seen such a good group of people. It’s so unique,” says Jenna.

Unique, like Autism itself. There’s common traits and patterns, but not the same story for each family. “It can be easy to feel isolated,” Jenna shares. Behaviors such as screaming in public, refusing to walk, and eloping aren’t easily understood by the masses and may even be alarming to some. 

“You must be willing to ask for help.”

When Jenna discovered that a service dog could benefit Steele, she thought it was something their family would have to figure out on their own. Daunted by the $20,000 adoption fee plus travel and training expenses, Jenna considered it for a year before deciding to share her heart on Facebook. 

On February 20th, 2023, she posted asking for donations towards the adoption fee. This was far outside her comfort zone.

Her request was met in a fierce, fast way. Food trucks created a special night donating profits. Local businesses coordinated “A Day for Steele,” combining profits from establishments all around the city of White House. House of Paws hosted a “Nail Trim” fundraiser too. It was an incredible need met by intentional actions, and motivated by love.

Last month the Nelms family took the long awaited trip to Highland K9 facility in North Carolina. Steele was matched with his perfect autism support dog who they named Sadie. A Chocolate Lab, Sadie is being trained to specifically work with Steele’s needs. She will provide deep pressure treatments and tracking assistance when needed, but she will mainly be an anchor for Steele as he interacts with his world. 

The hope is that Sadie will also help Steele sleep through the night for the first time in his life. Jenna and Matt, along with their other two children, Colbie (10) and Kinsley (9), eagerly await Sadie’s homecoming and the support she will bring as they all care for Steele. 

“As soon as we bring Sadie home and go through the process of handler training, we want to bring her around to all those businesses that helped out,” Jenna says.

No doubt, the community is excited to see Steele and the Nelms family benefit from their new four legged addition to the family.