The Retailer: The place Meals, Dignity, and Group Come Collectively By Meghan Forte
Do you know practically half of Tennessee households face meals insecurity? Actually, 40% expertise low or very low meals safety, making this a urgent challenge within the state. That’s why my newest interview with Brittney Brown, Director of Mission Development at The Retailer, sheds mild on a corporation making a tangible affect. The Retailer’s mission brings distinctive and important work to life, making an actual distinction locally.
In response to 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 relies on dignity, alternative, and the assumption 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 buying days, clients examine in on the Belmont Ministry Middle subsequent door. We’ve a restricted house, so solely about 15 consumers could be inside at a time. They take a cart and store similar to in an everyday grocery retailer.The variety of grocery objects they will take relies on their family measurement. This doesn’t embrace recent produce or non-food necessities like toiletries, which we attempt to present generously. After buying, they try at a register—although no cash is exchanged—and obtain a receipt to assist them funds 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 provides extra than simply groceries — it fosters a way of group. Brown explains, “We provide numerous cooking courses, together with senior cooking courses, grownup cooking workshops, and youngsters’ cooking courses. These packages educate individuals the right way to 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 doable—whether or not via interviews like this, fundraising, planning occasions, or spreading consciousness locally. I give attention to partaking individuals 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 companion. The Retailer is situated on Belmont’s property, and so they proceed to help us in numerous methods.”
She additional emphasised the facility of collaboration: “As a substitute of operating these packages ourselves, we companion with about 50 nonprofits throughout Nashville. By working with organizations specializing in completely different companies, we will maximize our affect. As an illustration, we serve shoppers 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 conserving operations operating. She expressed gratitude for volunteers, saying, “The Retailer depends closely on volunteers. We’ve a small employees 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. Presently, we don’t have digital alternatives, however sooner or later, we would introduce distant choices, comparable 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 consumers have to 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 attributable to 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 constructive affect locally. She shared, “Over the previous yr, we’ve labored exhausting to refine our advertising and marketing technique. One in every of our best initiatives is our month-to-month Lunch & Study 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 acknowledged, “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 embrace Nashville’s Acquired Expertise, a expertise present the place professionals comparable to docs, judges, and enterprise leaders showcase their hidden skills, 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 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 various methods to help this 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 shall 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 employees 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
Tackle of The Retailer & Location Map : 2009 twelfth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37204
Contact The Retailer: PO Field 128287, Nashville, TN 37212
Cellphone Quantity: 615-460-8331
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