Take 1: Sesame Street Films in Vineyard Haven

Lights, camera, action!

Cynthia Wade, Tim Speidel and production crew were hard to miss running around with a fuzzy microphone and video camera at the in Vineyard Haven on Tuesday.

The production crew traveled to the Martha’s Vineyard to film scenes for an hour-length documentary for “Sesame Street” on how food banks can help families in need. It will premiere October 9 at 7 p.m. on PBS.

The scenes filmed on Martha’s Vineyard will focus on a family of four, led by John Chivers, a single father to three children.

“We’re part of a production that we’re blessed to be included in…trying to highlight hunger in America, or food insecurity in America,” said Chivers on the set of the documentary.

The Island Food Pantry, Serving Hands Food Distribution and Family-to-Family Holiday Distribution helped the Chivers family through a tough winter, and continue to help other families support themselves.

Chivers is now fully employed with the Vineyard Transportation Authority, and recently moved his family into Morgan Woods Affordable Housing in Edgartown.

“We would’ve had an empty fridge a lot of times this winter if it wasn’t for these programs,” said Chivers, his arms draped around seven-year-old Josephine and eight-year-old Jonathan.

In the documentary, Chivers and his children show Elmo—who was not on the scene—what sources of food are available on the Island. Among the many options: staples provided by Serving Hands Food Distribution, as well as produce donated from Cronig’s Market and several Island farms.

Wade and Speidel will film additional scenes for the documentary at and , the latter which has donated crop shares to the Chivers family and several others.

“As more and more families find themselves faced with going to a food bank to be able to feed themselves, Elmo will help the children (and parents) to understand it is not such a bad thing,” said Betty Burton, who leads the Serving Foods program. “It is important for them to know that there is food available to help them through the tough times.”

“[The production team] will be shooting at several other sites in the eastern corridor, but I think they felt it was important to say, ‘Yes, [food shortages occur] even on MV,’” said Burton.

Indeed. But as the documentary shows, in many cases, those struggling to put food on their tables find some relief from Island resources.

“I don’t look like I’m much of an advocate for hunger,” said Chivers with a smile. “My children are certainly well-fed, but they wouldn’t have been if it wasn’t for the generosity of the community here on the island and the organizations that bring food to the people that are in need."

This article has been edited to reflect the correct air date of the documentary.