Give and Gather Food Bank
Give and Gather
Piloting in Western Tennessee the Give and Gather Food Bank is an initiative designed to address local food insecurity challenges in the Southern region. Operating through two phases, The Foundation will use strategic collaborations with local businesses, to supply essential non-perishable items to the community. Concurrently, The Foundation will work with the community to create a garden that can be used to cultivate healthy foods.
Phase 1
In phase one, known as the “Give” phase, we will create a food pantry for the city of Brownsville and its surrounding area. In doing so, The Foundation will collaborate with a local organization to help sustain the pantry. We aim to provide quality non-perishable foods for the people of Brownsville to access at their own leisure.
Phase 2
In phase two, The Foundation aims to work with the city of Brownsville and start a garden within the community. In this phase, our goal is to demonstrate self-sufficiency through gardening, offering tips and lessons to empower the residents of Brownsville. This way, the community can actively contribute to preserving the garden and enhance their understanding of gardening and self-sustainability.
Why Give and Gather
The southern region of the United States faces elevated levels of food insecurity compared to other areas of the country. Despite comprising only 45% of all U.S. counties, the South is home to an alarming 83% of counties with the highest rates of food insecurity. In one out of every five southern counties, food insecurity is a significant concern. Brownsville, TN, is emblematic of this problem, with 28.6% of children in the area experiencing food insecurity. The issue extends to Haywood County, TN, which ranks as the poorest county in Tennessee. Generally speaking, Western Tennessee has some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the South. Regrettably, the South continues to grapple with persistently high rates of food insecurity, presenting an ongoing and urgent concern. Which is why Give and Gather is so crucial as a resource for those who do not have preexisting resources to rely on.
Our Goal
Our objective is to utilize the Give and Gather program as a guiding light, offering non-perishable food items to socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Through the integration of edible education, The Foundation for Southern Opportunity endeavors to systematically transition the South from a state of food insecurity to one of food security. Through the Give and Gather Food Bank program, The Foundation will provide resources that will be beneficial for future of the Southern region of the United States.
