The Retailer: The place Meals, Dignity, and Neighborhood Come Collectively By Meghan Forte
Do you know almost half of Tennessee households face meals insecurity? In truth, 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 important work to life, making an actual distinction locally.
Based on 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, selection, and entry to wholesome meals. The web site additionally states: “Our mannequin is predicated on dignity, selection, 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 few 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 purchasing days, prospects test in on the Belmont Ministry Middle subsequent door. Now we have a restricted house, so solely about 15 consumers might be inside at a time. They take a cart and store identical to in an everyday grocery retailer.The variety of grocery objects they will take is predicated on their family dimension. This doesn’t embrace recent 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 finances for after 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 provides extra than simply groceries — it fosters a way of group. Brown explains, “We provide varied cooking lessons, together with senior cooking lessons, grownup cooking workshops, and children’ cooking lessons. These packages train members find out how to put together meals with the recent 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 develop The Retailer’s mission in any means attainable—whether or not by means of interviews like this, fundraising, planning occasions, or spreading consciousness locally. I deal with participating folks and welcoming 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 accomplice. 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 a substitute of working these packages ourselves, we accomplice with about 50 nonprofits throughout Nashville. By working with organizations specializing in completely different providers, we will maximize our affect. As an illustration, we serve purchasers from shelters and veteran packages whereas they supply further assets to our consumers.”
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. Now we 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. Presently, we don’t have digital alternatives, however sooner or later, we’d introduce distant choices, similar to writing thank-you playing cards to donors.”
As Brown said, “Folks come to The Retailer both by means of a nonprofit partnership or by signing up on our waitlist. Eligible consumers have to be at or under 200% of the federal poverty stage. We deliberately set this threshold larger than some packages as a result of many households work arduous 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 constructive affect locally. She shared, “Over the previous yr, we’ve labored arduous to refine our advertising technique. One in all our simplest initiatives is our month-to-month Lunch & Be taught 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 immediately concerned within the fundraising initiatives behind The Retailer’s success. Brittney said, “One in all 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 similar to medical doctors, judges, and enterprise leaders showcase their hidden skills, and The Toy Retailer, a December occasion that gives households with a vacation purchasing 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 means of volunteering, donations, or attending fundraising occasions, there are a lot of 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 means 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 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
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
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