Beyond Graduation: Turning a Health Project into a Community Solution
In Cookeville, as in all cities and towns across our nation, weekends can be especially
difficult for those experiencing homelessness. While weekday services often provide
meals and support, many of those resources shut down over the weekend鈥攍eaving a critical
gap in access to food and nutrition.
Krissie Miranda saw this problem firsthand. While earning her master鈥檚 in Community Health and Nutrition at 麻豆果冻传媒, she developed the Weekend Nourishment Project to help fill that gap. Her research highlighted what she already knew from conversations in the community: food insecurity doesn鈥檛 pause for the weekend.
In partnership with First United Methodist Church in Cookeville, Miranda proposed a simple but effective solution. Today, her vision has become reality in the form of lockers stocked with ready-to-eat meals and basic supplies鈥攁vailable anytime, even when other services are closed. On their first weekend of operation, 11 of the 18 lockers were used, signaling both the need and immediate impact of the project.
Realizing the Deeper Need
Miranda鈥檚 idea took shape through meaningful conversations and focused research. While speaking with members of the unhoused community, she discovered that many go without meals for extended periods because most food services don鈥檛 operate on weekends. One encounter stood out.
鈥淚 realized that this wasn鈥檛 just about hunger, it was about health and survival,鈥� Miranda said, recalling a conversation with a woman living with diabetes who struggled to find the right foods to manage her condition.
From Idea to Implementation
Inspired to act, Miranda initially considered installing a vending machine stocked with essential items. However, logistical and budget limitations quickly became barriers. Instead of giving up, she adapted.
鈥淲e held multiple meetings with different groups to discuss alternative solutions and determine what would work best within the space and budget we had available,鈥� she said.
Ultimately, the concept of secure, food-filled lockers emerged as a viable, scalable solution that could be managed by volunteers and accessed with dignity by those in need.
Lessons for Other Students
For students hoping to transform a school project into something more, Miranda offers this advice: stay committed, even when it鈥檚 hard.
鈥淭here will be challenges along the way, but staying committed to your vision is key,鈥� she said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to reach out to other agencies, community partners or campus resources that can help bring your project to life.鈥�
Collaboration and community engagement, she emphasized, are vital to turning an academic idea into real-world impact.
Skills That Made a Difference
Miranda credits her academic experience for giving her the tools to launch the Weekend Nourishment Project. Her background in program development and proposal writing helped her think strategically and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
鈥淭his foundation gave me the tools to think strategically, plan with purpose, and communicate ideas clearly,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t also taught me how to approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset, allowing me to adapt and overcome.鈥�
Looking Ahead
The project is already showing promise, but Miranda and her collaborators aren鈥檛 stopping there. They plan to expand the Weekend Nourishment Project at Cookeville First United Methodist Church as community needs evolve. They鈥檙e also open to helping other churches and organizations implement similar initiatives.
鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to sharing what we鈥檝e learned and supporting others who want to address food insecurity,鈥� Miranda said.
Future Goals
As she begins her career as a registered dietitian, Miranda hopes to remain closely involved with the project. Her long-term goal is to evaluate and improve the program while using her expertise to broaden its reach.
鈥淚 hope to offer ongoing support by helping evaluate and improve the initiative as needed, and by using my professional knowledge to expand its reach and impact,鈥� she said.