The Crescent Theater hosts the documentary A Place at the Table from March 15 through March 20, with a special benefit screening on Tuesday, March 19, that supports the Bay Area Food Bank. The run pairs a hard look at American food insecurity with a local food and fund drive collecting nonperishable donations for neighbors in need.
A national problem, told through three lives
Directors Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush examine hunger through the stories of three Americans struggling to put food on the table: a single Philadelphia mother working to build a better life for her children, a Colorado second-grader who often relies on friends and neighbors for meals, and a Mississippi second-grader whose asthma is worsened by the empty calories her hardworking mother can afford. The film weaves in perspective from experts including sociologist Janet Poppendieck, author Raj Patel and nutrition-policy leader Marion Nestle, alongside activists such as Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio and Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges.
Local hunger, local response
The issue hits close to home in Mobile. Roughly one in three children in Mobile County is food insecure — unsure of where the next meal will come from. During the Crescent’s Tuesday showing, the theater will donate a portion of ticket sales to the Bay Area Food Bank, and a food and fund drive runs from March 16 through March 20.
The documentary makes the case that hunger carries real economic, social and cultural costs for the nation, but that it could be solved if the public decides — as it has before — that making healthy food available and affordable serves everyone’s interest. Local donations collected during the run help close the gap when other resources run short.