The History of MIFA continued The Last Half of the 70's For several years, the Memphis social services community had recognized the need to provide home delivered meals to shut-ins. With potential clients scattered throughout the area, the problems of cost and logistics seemed insurmountable. When the Delta Area Agency on Aging issued a request for proposals, MIFA responded with a Home Delivered Meals program. The challenge was to design a cost effective system that could deliver a nutritionally balanced hot noon meal to low income elderly in Shelby, Tipton, Lauderdale and Fayette counties. The MIFA proposal was built on the availability of VISTAs and the conviction that a large corps of volunteers could be recruited to deliver the meals. MIFA was awarded the grant in 1976. Under a subcontract with Lutheran Social Services, the same meal prepared for Project MEET Congregate sites was packaged in individual servings and delivered to Emmanuel Presbyterian Church where volunteers picked up meals for their routes. The program now uses some 300 volunteer deliverers a week and has been so successful that MIFA is often identified in the community with Home Delivered Meals and the volunteers are often MIFA's most vocal advocates. For many elderly recipients the volunteer's visit is the only outside contact in an otherwise isolated, lonely existence. The volunteer may also be a link to other community services, reporting and referring changes in the client's condition. Or the volunteer may be able to help on the spot. VISTA volunteer Russell Doss found his elderly, homebound client unable to walk. When he asked to see her feet, he discovered that her toenails had grown so long that they were preventing locomotion. Getting these toenails cut allowed her to get around again. In 1981 when Lutheran Social Services determined that they would no longer operate Project MEET, the congregate meal program, MIFA was awarded the contract and Virginia Hiett was named Director of MIFA Meals which incorporated the two programs. Now Sharon Kraebber, Director of MIFA Meals, oversees the production and distribution of 3,000 meals a day, 1300 to home delivered meal clients and 1700 to seniors at 43 congregate meal sites. MIFA embarked upon an educational project in September, 1976, when it received a grant from the Tennessee Committee for the Humanities for “Public Policy and Memphis Neighborhoods.” The purpose of this grant was to involve residents in discovering the history of their neighborhood and the impact of public policy on it. This program produced histories of eight neighborhoods, researched and written by historians Peggy Jamison and Betty Tilley, assisted by a group of dedicated VISTAs. Oral history interviews with many residents of the neighborhoods created an awareness of heritage and citizen responsibility. A series of forty radio programs based on this material was produced under the guidance of the Reverend Chuck Swann, who had assisted MIFA with media projects since the early 70's, and was broadcast over stations WLYX and WEVL. The histories provide a basis for neighborhood pride and cohesion, and remain a valuable resource for the city. A subsequent grant from the Tennessee Committee for Humanities, “Our Changing City: Cause and Effect,” demonstrated how citizens can influence the course of local events by studying and acting on issues. Among issues studied were the Hollywood Dump, the future of Shelby Farms, and neighborhood zoning. Historian Emily Ruch and Anthropologist Bridget Ciarmitaro researched these issues and helped neighborhood groups address these problems. Consistent with the emphasis on neighborhoods was the Mott Foundation grant for a Community Education project begun October 1, 1978, and directed by Vida Andersen. Its purpose was to open neighborhood schools to provide educational activities for all ages. There was consultation with the Better Schools Committee representatives Frances Coe and Ina Fitzgerald who were also concerned with community education. At a time when busing was removing children from their own neighborhoods, the MIFA project demonstrated how schools could retain their neighborhood identities by serving others who lived there. Out of the background experience of these neighborhood projects, the MIFA Center for Neighborhoods arose, originally directed by Vida Andersen, now by Janis Foster. This center located in the historic George Collins Love House, is a joint effort of MIFA and the City of Memphis to support neighborhood organizations and community improvement. The Center sponsors workshops relating to the specific needs of neighborhoods, fosters communication between neighborhood leaders, and encourages economic revitalization. The Center also sponsors City Camp, a week-long urban adventure for young people, and Neighborfest, and all day celebration of the rich diversity among the city's neighborhoods. In December, 1986, the Center embarked upon a program to encourage the private or public sector to adopt a neighborhood. So far eight such adoptions have occurred including a match between LeMoyne Owen College and the Memphis Housing Authority's LeMoyne Gardens housing project. The Center works with both parties to make the adoption effective. Local Black history was the object of 1970s research by VISTAs Marjean Kremer and Selma Lewis. In an effort to understand causes of poverty, and finding a dearth of written materials, they conducted over two hundred oral interviews of elderly Blacks. Tapes of these interviews are available at the Memphis Public Library. A biographical novel, The Angel of Beale Street, was written by Kremer and Lewis and published by St. Luke's Press in 1986 as a result of this research. Programs for senior citizens have been significant to MIFA's history. During the 70's, national attention was focused on this population with the passage of the Older Americans Act. Responding to their special needs, MIFA has initiated, participated in, and operated many programs to enhance the lives of the elderly. Nutrition, transportation, and tax rebate services have already been mentioned. Two Senior Citizens Centers were established by MIFA. East Senior Center was founded in 1978 and directed by Sybil Tucker. It was located at East High School and at Berclair School until those schools needed the space; finally it found its present home at Highland and Tutwiler. Metro Senior Center was developed by First United Methodist Church in its location at Poplar and Second. Both centers provide companionship, recreation, hot noon meals, and valuable instruction to about 170 clients each day. With the rapid growth of new kinds of senior housing, elderly people were faced with confusing alternatives. MIFA saw a role in helping seniors sort out new ideas like high rise, congregate and life care, and to assist them in making the best choice of living arrangements. The Delta Area Agency on Aging awarded MIFA a grant for Project HOPE (Housing Opportunities for the Elderly) and Lauren Hagen was named coordinator. Seniors were provided information and counseling, taken to look at various housing options, and given assistance with necessary paper work. In 1978 MIFA brought together managers of senior housing facilities to form Home (Housing Owners and Managers for the Elderly) to address common problems and to find ways of improving services in congregate living facilities. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency had a Homeownership Program to provide loans to finance homes for low income buyers at low interest rates. In 1978 THDA contracted with MIFA to be a counseling agent for this program and Margaret Ryan was hired as the Counselor. From this part-time assignment, Ryan rapidly assumed greater responsibilities at MIFA as her talents and potential were recognized. The MIFA offices moved in the summer of 1978 from Monroe to another downtown location, First Presbyterian Church at 166 A Poplar. MIFA was delighted to retain a downtown identity, and the association with the church was compatible. The staff fondly remembers the excellent meals provided downstairs at the Civic Center Culinary Community Club. Another significant event took place at the end of the 70's when Bob Dempsey resigned as Associate Director in order to embark on the practice of law, for which he had been studying at night. His imprint on the organization remains indelible. His departure from the daily operation of MIFA left Smith alone at the head of the growing and maturing organization. But by this time there was a degree of stability, a sense of direction, and confidence in MIFAs developed policies and procedures. In a choice typical of Gid Smith's sensitivity and wisdom in surrounding himself with capable and caring associates, he appointed Jeanne Tacket MIFA's first Associate Executive Director. It was an appointment that boded well for the coming events. Next: The Maturing Years