"It was the most exhilarating thing that I have ever witnessed," Reginald Johnson writes after visiting a Meals on Wheels event at MIFA HQ. "You'd think that people are racing to MIFA picking up gold bars. But for them, the cargo in their cars is more precious than silver and gold, for they are on a mission to serve some of the most vulnerable and isolated seniors in our city. You can see it in their eyes and you can hear it in their voices; you can see it in the urgency of their walk."

This is the first in our new series on senior food insecurity. It’s a topic that is especially important in the greater Memphis area, which has the third highest senior food insecurity rates in the country. There are a lot of challenges associated with senior food insecurity, but local organizations like MIFA (Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association) are taking a proactive approach to providing solutions.

"We have some of the most talented and brightest scholars in the world nestled right here in our Black communities," writes Reginald Johnson.

“Memphis is not new to developing strategic plans, so it was important for us to be thoughtful of how this process would be different and actionable,” says Jamilica Burke, chief strategy and impact officer of Seeding Success, the Memphis nonprofit responsible for coordinating the More for Memphis initiative.

“These grants contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities, help meet the challenges of our time, and build towards a future in which all people can lead artful lives and reach their full potential,” says NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson.