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"What you do to the least of these..." Matthew 25:40

Mission

RIFA is leading and engaging the community in the fight against hunger.

RIFA IS…

A local, faith-based organization that has been part of the Jackson community since 1976.

Vision

To lead and engage the community in the fight against hunger. 

Mission

To reach out with the love of Christ to provide physical and spiritual nourishment.

Safe place

As much as we are all about fighting hunger, we are a safe place for people to find community and experience Christ.

Why we exist

Because 1 out of 5 people living in Jackson are unsure of where their next meal is coming from. 18.9% of people in Madison County live below the poverty level which is higher than the 15% US average. 

RIFA is where you can be the hands and feet of Christ in your own backyard.

Our History

Our History

RIFA has been serving Jackson since 1976

  • 1976 – RIFA was established with Rev. Gary Scheidt as the first Executive Director. The office was located in Jones Hall at the old Union University in downtown Jackson.
  • 1977-1978 – RIFA coordinated Food Fairs in the parking lot of the old West Jackson Baptist Church, which was the beginning of today’s Farmers Market.
  • 1992 – RIFA moved to the old Clean Linen building at 219 N. Highland Avenue.
  • 1996 – The RIFA Thrift Store opens.
  • 1996 –The local Community Soup Kitchen became one of RIFA’s ministries.
  • 2005 – Snack Backpack ministry started with one school and 25 children served.
  • 2005 – RIFA begins operating an independent Food Bank.
  • 2005 – First annual Canstruction fundraiser held at the Jackson Fairgrounds.
  • 2009 – Lisa Tillman becomes Executive Director of RIFA.
  • 2012 – Moved to the former Nando Jones building at 133 Airways Boulevard.
  • 2014 – Canstruction moved to the Civic Center on its 10th anniversary.
  • 2014 – RIFA was named the Jackson Chamber’s Nonprofit of the Year.
  • 2015 – RIFA graduates from the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence’s Program for Nonprofit Excellence (PNE).
  • 2019 – RIFA started the Bus Stop Cafe.
  • 2019 – RIFA distrubuted 518,136 meals.

 

Our Staff

Lisa Tillman Executive Director ltillman@rifajackson.org
Shaun Powers Assistant Director spowers@rifajackson.org
Tina Hernandez Administrative Assistant thernandez@rifajackson.org
Marie Geiser Community Outreach Coordinator mgeiser@rifajackson.org
Jeri Traylor Client Resource Coordinator jtraylor@rifajackson.org
Dorothy Bell Warehouse & Thrift Store Clerk dbell@rifajackson.org
Thomas Brown Warehouse Manager tbrown@rifajackson.org
Anna Smith Accountant asmith@rifajackson.org
TJ Clanin Thrift Store Clerk info@rifajackson.org
Lindsay Dawkins Marketing and Events Coordinator ldawkins@rifajackson.org
Dawn Carlton Thrift Store Online Marketing Coordinator dcarlton@rifajackson.org
Margaret Merriweather Receptionist mmerriweather@rifajackson.org
Susan McFarland Soup Kitchen Manager smcfarmland@rifajackson.org
Jennifer Ortiz Weekend Soup Kitchen Manager jortiz@rifajackson.org
Mary Roebuck Receptionist mroebuck@rifajackson.org
Elaine Taylor Thrift Store Clerk etaylor@rifajackson.org
Cheryl Thomas Thrift Store Manager cthomas@rifajackson.org
Dan Ward Volunteer Coordinator dward@rifajackson.org
Lisa Robey Thrift Store Clerk lrobey@rifajackson.org
Valerie Lawane Warehouse Processor vlawane@rifajackson.org

Our Board

Dr. Amy Elizer Board President University of Tennessee Extension
Extension Agent & County Director
Jason Bates Vice President Toyota Bodine Aluminum
Administration Manager
Carol Sue Keathley Treasurer Raymond James
Branch Manager & Managing Director
Aaron Cooper Secretary Jackson Energy Authority
HR Supervisor
Ryan Porter Past President Jackson Chamber
COO/General Counsel
James Allison Retired
Allison Insurance
Dan Brooks Retired from Macy’s
Community Volunteer
Jinny Culpepper BancorpSouth Mortgage
Mortgage Loan Officer
Rhonda Heard Jackson-Madison County School System
Community Engagement Coordinator
Delita Johnson Crime Stoppers
Assistant Coordinator
Dr. Eric Jones Consultant
The Rev. Gayle McCarty St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Rector
Randy Pierson Fellowship Bible Church
Executive Pastor of Operations
Ginger Pipkin FTB Advisors
Wealth Management Client Specialist
Anita Revelle MOST, Inc.
Plant Manager
Dr. Wayne Smith Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor
Captain Derick Tisdale Jackson Police Department
South Precinct Commander
Sandra White St. John's Community Services
TN Marketing & Communications Specialist
Michelle Willis Gerdau
Senior HR Generalist
Scotty Wolfe Simmons Bank
Community Banker
Drew Yates First Bank
Branch Manager

Help us meet 80,000 Meals!

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