Every Body Needs Food is a hunger-relief solution for neighbors in the historic Jefferson Street Corridor of Nashville, who in seasons of uncertainty, don't have enough food to eat. There is intentionality in the name EVERY BODY because it signals the importance and need that the body has in order to be healthy, functional, and to thrive. 

For food justice activists and faith leaders, Rev. Rochelle Andrews and Rev. Yvette R. Blair-Lavallais, food insecurity is real. They believe we all have a responsibility to ensure that EVERY BODY has access to fresh, healthy, affordable food. They recognize that is is not enough to just talk about it - they are committed to actively and purposefully doing something about it. 

As public theologians, strategists and pastors in The African Methodist Episcopal Church and The United Methodist Church, Rochelle and Yvette first began their collaboration in 2018 as inaugural cohort members of the Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Driven by their faith and each bringing their years of experience and compassion for food justice, Rev. Rochelle and Rev. Y strategized in the summer of 2024 to introduce an innovative and human-centered design approach to developing a digital web-based platform to aid in responding to food insecurity. They took their idea, applied for the TIDEL Fellowship program to secure grant funding and other important resources, and were chosen to implement their vision. This is the genesis of EVERY BODY NEEDS FOOD. A dignified way to help neighbors in the Nashville Jefferson Street Corridor find food. A way to eliminate the red tape, hassle and barriers of requirement and rules just to get food. 

This collaborative effort involves members of the faith community in Nashville, food banks, food pantries, pop-up food giveaways, and grocery stores who willingly share their overages of food with those in need.