Family Dollar Situation Only Highlights Hunger Vulnerability for Some West Tennesseans
Author: Lisa Tillman, Director of RIFA
Published by: The Jackson Sun
Date: 5 March 2022
This week, there has been increased awareness about food insecurity and food deserts in West Tennessee.
The Wednesday, March 2 Jackson Sun article written by Angele Latham highlighted issues that RIFA has seen first-hand for years in Jackson, Madison County, in the counties contiguous to Madison County, as well as other areas of West Tennessee.
Food insecurity happens for individuals and families in a variety of situations.
According to a United Way of West Tennessee report (https://uwwt.org/how-we-help/meet-alice.html), 41% of households in Madison County are either ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households or households living in poverty.
That is 14,900 households. Within the city limits of Jackson, that number is up to 48%. It is entirely too easy for almost half of our community to find themselves in a food insecurity situation.
One major car repair or hospital visit can present the choice of paying a bill or purchasing groceries for their family.
Frequently, we see areas underserved by retailers which end up creating what is called “food deserts”.
The USDA uses a variety of metrics to determine if an area is a food desert, but is generally a combination of a census tract having a poverty rate equal to 20% and 33% of the population being located one mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket or grocery store.
Food deserts are a national phenomenon that our culture has not come up with a consistent strategy on how to solve.
This is a blind spot in public policy and is often left unaddressed or left to nonprofits to combat. In this instance, some of our neighborhoods were not being serviced by a proper grocer and were relying on a dollar store chain for everyday food items.
While we see food insecurity most often in low-income populations, students, and senior citizens, many of our neighbors are just one paycheck, or in this instance, one store closure, away from true food insecurity.
The commonality is a lack of transportation and resources.
This one major retailer that has a significant footprint in West Tennessee was disrupted, and it put additional strain on organizations that are serving neighbors who are vulnerable and at-risk to hunger.
RIFA is committed to collaborating with government entities and other nonprofit organizations to fill this most recent gap, as well as preparing to avoid this kind of crisis in the future.
Our mission is to reach out with the love of Christ to provide spiritual and physical nourishment.
This remains our priority. RIFA’s current programs and ministries include multiple channels of distribution for meals for children, seniors, and others who find themselves in circumstances that leave them hungry.
With continued help from the community through volunteer efforts, donations of food, donations of goods that can be sold in our Thrift Store, and financial contributions from churches, corporate sponsors, and individuals, we will remain committed to extending our reach to serve vulnerable neighbors in our region. If you want to help us continue to be part of the solution, visit www.rifajackson.org.