The Retailer: The place Meals, Dignity, and Group Come Collectively

The Retailer: The place Meals, Dignity, and Group 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 mild on a company making a tangible impression. The Retailer’s mission brings distinctive and very 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 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 few 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 purchasing days, prospects test in on the Belmont Ministry Heart subsequent door. We now have a restricted house, so solely about 15 buyers could be inside at a time. They take a cart and store identical to in a daily grocery retailer.The variety of grocery gadgets they’ll take relies on their family dimension. This doesn’t embrace contemporary produce or non-food necessities like toiletries, which we attempt to present generously. After purchasing, they try at a register—although no cash is exchanged—and obtain a receipt to assist them funds 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 presents 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 packages educate members find out how to put together meals with the contemporary 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 be taught budgeting, saving, and investing, so we intention to supply them with these important abilities.”

She additionally famous , “My job is to broaden The Retailer’s mission in any approach potential—whether or not by way of interviews like this, fundraising, planning occasions, or spreading consciousness locally. I deal with participating individuals and alluring them to help The Retailer.”

Sturdy partnerships have been key to increasing The Retailer’s attain and impression throughout Center Tennessee. Brittney defined, “Belmont College stays a key companion. The Retailer is situated on Belmont’s property, they usually proceed to help us in numerous methods.”

She additional emphasised the facility of collaboration: “As an alternative of working these packages ourselves, we companion with about 50 nonprofits throughout Nashville. By working with organizations specializing in completely different companies, we will maximize our impression. As an illustration, we serve purchasers from shelters and veteran packages whereas they supply extra assets to our buyers.”

Volunteers are the spine of The Retailer, and Brittney emphasised their essential function in holding operations working. She expressed gratitude for volunteers, saying, “The Retailer depends closely on volunteers. We now have a small employees 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’d introduce distant choices, reminiscent of writing thank-you playing cards to donors.”

As Brown said, “Individuals come to The Retailer both by way of a nonprofit partnership or by signing up on our waitlist. Eligible buyers should be at or under 200% of the federal poverty degree. We deliberately set this threshold larger than some packages as a result of many households work onerous however nonetheless battle 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 impression locally. She shared, “Over the previous 12 months, we’ve labored onerous to refine our advertising technique. One in every of our handiest 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 impression 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 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 embrace Nashville’s Received Expertise, a expertise present the place professionals reminiscent of docs, judges, and enterprise leaders showcase their hidden abilities, and The Toy Retailer, a December occasion that gives households with a vacation purchasing expertise the place they’ll select Christmas presents for his or her kids.”

As The Retailer prepares to open a second location, its impression will solely proceed to develop. Whether or not by way of 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—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 might 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 electronic 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 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

Handle 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