The Retailer: The place Meals, Dignity, and Neighborhood Come Collectively By Meghan Forte
Do you know practically half of Tennessee households face meals insecurity? In actual fact, 40% expertise low or very low meals safety, making this a urgent difficulty within the state. That’s why my newest interview with Brittney Brown, Director of Mission Development at The Retailer, sheds gentle on a corporation making a tangible affect. The Retailer’s mission brings distinctive and important work to life, making an actual distinction in the neighborhood.
In line 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 assist 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 12 months and a half later, it transitioned into an in-person, choice-based grocery retailer.
As for the mannequin of the shop she notes, “On buying days, clients test in on the Belmont Ministry Heart subsequent door. We have now a restricted area, so solely about 15 consumers will be inside at a time. They take a cart and store identical to in a daily grocery retailer.The variety of grocery gadgets they will take is predicated on their family measurement. This doesn’t embody recent produce or non-food necessities like toiletries, which we attempt to present generously. After buying, they take a look at at a register—although no cash is exchanged—and obtain a receipt to assist them price range for after they graduate from this system. Volunteers help in bagging and carrying groceries to their vehicles.”
Brittney additionally shared what units this system at The Retailer aside. The Retailer gives extra than simply groceries — it fosters a way of neighborhood. Brown explains, “We provide varied cooking courses, together with senior cooking courses, grownup cooking workshops, and youngsters’ cooking courses. These packages train contributors how you can put together meals with the recent produce and groceries we offer. We additionally maintain monetary literacy programs to empower individuals with cash administration abilities. Many people by no means had the chance to study budgeting, saving, and investing, so we goal to offer them with these important abilities.”
She additionally famous , “My job is to develop The Retailer’s mission in any means potential—whether or not by way of interviews like this, fundraising, planning occasions, or spreading consciousness in the neighborhood. I deal with partaking individuals and alluring them to assist 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 associate. The Retailer is situated on Belmont’s property, they usually proceed to assist us in varied methods.”
She additional emphasised the facility of collaboration: “As an alternative of operating these packages ourselves, we associate with about 50 nonprofits throughout Nashville. By working with organizations focusing on totally different providers, we are able to maximize our affect. For example, we serve purchasers from shelters and veteran packages whereas they supply extra assets to our consumers.”
Volunteers are the spine of The Retailer, and Brittney emphasised their essential function in retaining operations operating. She expressed gratitude for volunteers, saying, “The Retailer depends closely on volunteers. We have now a small workers of 9, so it takes about 120 volunteers to run a single location. We’re opening a second location later this 12 months, which would require much more volunteers. Presently, 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 said, “Folks come to The Retailer both by way of a nonprofit partnership or by signing up on our waitlist. Eligible consumers should be at or beneath 200% of the federal poverty degree. We deliberately set this threshold increased than some packages as a result of many households work exhausting however nonetheless wrestle as a consequence of excessive dwelling prices.”
Brittney mentioned the significance of The Retailer’s advertising efforts, fundraising occasions, and the way these initiatives have additional superior its mission to make a optimistic affect in the neighborhood. She shared, “Over the previous 12 months, we’ve labored exhausting to refine our advertising technique. One in every of our best initiatives is our month-to-month Lunch & Be taught occasion. This provides individuals 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 instantly concerned within the fundraising initiatives behind The Retailer’s success. Brittney said, “One in every of 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 embody Nashville’s Bought 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 buying expertise the place they will select Christmas presents for his or her youngsters.”
As The Retailer prepares to open a second location, its affect will solely proceed to develop. Whether or not by way of volunteering, donations, or attending fundraising occasions, there are various methods to assist this important mission.
How can we make a distinction in our communities? A method is by serving to our neighbors with empathy—by way of volunteering, donating, and dedicating our time to significant causes like The Retailer.
On April 13, 2025, the “Groceries with Dignity, Comedy With out” fundraiser can 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 Way of life 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 great work in making The Retailer a actuality.
Skilled Web site
Deal with 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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