The Retailer: The place Meals, Dignity, and Neighborhood Come Collectively By Meghan Forte
Do you know almost half of Tennessee households face meals insecurity? The truth is, 40% expertise low or very low meals safety, making this a urgent problem within the state. That’s why my newest interview with Brittney Brown, Director of Mission Development at The Retailer, sheds mild on a company making a tangible affect. The Retailer’s mission brings distinctive and very important work to life, making an actual distinction locally.
In keeping with The Retailer’s web site, its mission is “to fight meals insecurity in Center Tennessee with empathy, dignity, and respect.” The Retailer stands out for its distinctive, choice-based mannequin, which prioritizes dignity, alternative, and entry to wholesome meals. The web site additionally states: “Our mannequin is predicated on dignity, alternative, and the idea that everybody deserves entry to wholesome meals and the help they should thrive.”
As Brittney Brown shared, The Retailer’s origins hint again to Brad and Kim Paisley’s volunteer work at Unity Shoppe, a choice-based meals financial institution in Santa Barbara, California. Impressed by their expertise, they introduced the mannequin to Nashville, formally launching The Retailer in March 2020, simply earlier than the pandemic and the devastating twister in
Nashville. Initially, it operated as a supply mannequin, however a couple of yr and a half later, it transitioned into an in-person, choice-based grocery retailer.
As for the mannequin of the shop she notes, “On procuring days, clients verify in on the Belmont Ministry Heart subsequent door. We now have a restricted area, so solely about 15 buyers may be inside at a time. They take a cart and store similar to in a daily grocery retailer.The variety of grocery gadgets they’ll take is predicated on their family dimension. This doesn’t embrace contemporary produce or non-food necessities like toiletries, which we attempt to present generously. After procuring, they try at a register—although no cash is exchanged—and obtain a receipt to assist them finances for once they graduate from this system. Volunteers help in bagging and carrying groceries to their automobiles.”
Brittney additionally shared what units this system at The Retailer aside. The Retailer affords extra than simply groceries — it fosters a way of neighborhood. Brown explains, “We provide numerous cooking courses, together with senior cooking courses, grownup cooking workshops, and children’ cooking courses. These applications educate contributors put together meals with the contemporary produce and groceries we offer. We additionally maintain monetary literacy programs to empower folks with cash administration expertise. Many people by no means had the chance to study budgeting, saving, and investing, so we intention to supply them with these important expertise.”
She additionally famous , “My job is to broaden The Retailer’s mission in any approach doable—whether or not via interviews like this, fundraising, planning occasions, or spreading consciousness locally. I deal with participating folks and alluring them to help The Retailer.”
Robust partnerships have been key to increasing The Retailer’s attain and affect throughout Center Tennessee. Brittney defined, “Belmont College stays a key accomplice. The Retailer is positioned on Belmont’s property, and so they proceed to help us in numerous methods.”
She additional emphasised the ability of collaboration: “As a substitute of working these applications ourselves, we accomplice with about 50 nonprofits throughout Nashville. By working with organizations focusing on completely different companies, we are able to maximize our affect. As an example, we serve purchasers from shelters and veteran applications whereas they supply further sources to our buyers.”
Volunteers are the spine of The Retailer, and Brittney emphasised their essential position in retaining operations working. She expressed gratitude for volunteers, saying, “The Retailer depends closely on volunteers. We now have a small workers of 9, so it takes about 120 volunteers to run a single location. We’re opening a second location later this yr, which would require much more volunteers. At the moment, we don’t have digital alternatives, however sooner or later, we would introduce distant choices, corresponding to writing thank-you playing cards to donors.”
As Brown acknowledged, “Individuals come to The Retailer both via a nonprofit partnership or by signing up on our waitlist. Eligible buyers should be at or beneath 200% of the federal poverty stage. We deliberately set this threshold increased than some applications as a result of many households work laborious however nonetheless battle because of excessive residing prices.”
Brittney mentioned the significance of The Retailer’s advertising and marketing efforts, fundraising occasions, and the way these initiatives have additional superior its mission to make a optimistic affect locally. She shared, “Over the previous yr, we’ve labored laborious to refine our advertising and marketing technique. One among our simplest initiatives is our month-to-month Lunch & Study occasion. This offers folks an opportunity to tour The Retailer, hear about our mission, and see the affect firsthand. It has considerably helped with fundraising and volunteer recruitment.”
Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley are additionally straight concerned within the fundraising initiatives behind The Retailer’s success. Brittney acknowledged, “One among our signature occasions is Groceries of Dignity – Comedy With out”, a comedy present hosted by Brad Paisley that includes well-known comedians.”
She continued, “Different signature occasions embrace Nashville’s Received Expertise, a expertise present the place professionals corresponding to medical doctors, judges, and enterprise leaders showcase their hidden abilities, and The Toy Retailer, a December occasion that gives households with a vacation procuring expertise the place they’ll select Christmas presents for his or her kids.”
As The Retailer prepares to open a second location, its affect will solely proceed to develop. Whether or not via volunteering, donations, or attending fundraising occasions, there are a lot of methods to help this very important mission.
How can we make a distinction in our communities? A technique is by serving to our neighbors with empathy—via volunteering, donating, and dedicating our time to significant causes like The Retailer.
On April 13, 2025, the “Groceries with Dignity, Comedy With out” fundraiser will probably be hosted by Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. The occasion will happen at Zanies in Nashville, Tennessee, at 6 PM. Tickets can be found on-line.
The Retailer is open on Wednesday from 2:00 pm to six:00 pm, Thursday from 1:00 pm to five:00 pm, Friday from 9:00 am to five:00 pm, and Saturday from 9:00 am to three:00 pm.
Contact The Retailer at PO Field 128287, Nashville, TN 37212, name 615-460-8331, or e mail: [email protected].
A heartfelt thanks to Ms. Brittany Brown at The Retailer for taking the time to take part on this interview with Social Life-style Journal. Gratitude additionally goes to the devoted workers and volunteers at The Retailer for his or her unwavering dedication to addressing meals insecurity with dignity. Lastly, honest appreciation to Mr. Brad and Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Belmont College for his or her astonishingly fantastic work in making The Retailer a actuality.
Skilled Web site
Handle of The Retailer & Location Map : 2009 twelfth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37204
Contact The Retailer: PO Field 128287, Nashville, TN 37212
Telephone Quantity: 615-460-8331
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