JACKSON, Tennessee – The Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA) held a groundbreaking ceremony on the northeast end of their property to commemorate the beginning of the construction of a new expansion project, Monday.
According to a press release from Gracie Sloan, RIFA marketing director, once complete, this new space will enlarge RIFA’s capacity by over 9,000 square feet. This expansion will have a direct impact on not only the day-to-day operations of RIFA but also the organization’s reach within the community.
The space will include the following: over 165 new pallet spaces, allowing for more food to be stocked and distributed through our ministries; dedicated volunteer space, allowing for more space and efficiency when packing various meal packs and boxes; four times the amount of refrigerator and freezer space, allowing for more fresh produce, meats, and foods to be stored and distributed to those in need; over 1,000 square feet of brand new sales floor in the Thrift Store, allowing for increased sales numbers. Net profits from the store help fund the various ministries of RIFA; increased Soup Kitchen storage space to accommodate the supplies and food needed to serve breakfast and lunch meals 365 days a year; a new choice food pantry, allowing patrons the opportunity to select food items for themselves.
“We are grateful to the RIFA Board of Directors and the many partnerships that have brought this long-awaited project to fruition,” says Lisa Tillman, Executive Director of RIFA. “This expansion is not just a building, it’s the opportunity to feed more people here in our community.”
The project is led by general contractor Mike Davis of Mid-South Business Construction, LLC and is anticipated to be completed within the next year. For more information on the project, contact Shaun Powers at 731.427.7963.
With increased space and potential for growth, RIFA hopes to continue reaching out with the love of Christ to provide both physical and spiritual nourishment to those in need.
About RIFA
RIFA is a Christian non-profit organization that reaches out with the love of Christ to help people in need by providing physical and spiritual nourishment. In 1976, local churches and community leaders came together to discuss the growing poverty levels in Jackson, Tennessee. The problem: each individual church and civic organization did not have the resources to effectively provide relief for those in need. To coordinate a united effort, they formed a separate agency to help: RIFA. For more information, visit www.rifajackson.org.
