Sustainable Fairfax screens "Place at the Table" on Friday, May 15

BY PAIGE YEAKLE, Sustainable Fairfax Intern & Member of Sea-Disc (Drake High School’s environmental studies academy)

In a country that produces nearly 4,000 calories of food per person per day, 50 million Americans face food insecurity. What are we doing wrong? On Friday, May 15, Sustainable Fairfax is screening “A Place at the Table,” a documentary that investigates incidents of hunger experienced by millions of Americans, and proposed solutions to the problem.

The film, which was nominated for Grand Jury Prize in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, examines food insecurity through the eyes of two children and a single mother. It gives powerful insight into the reality of hunger and poverty right here in the United States. Alongside the personal anecdotes, directors Lori Silverbush and Kristi Jacobson lead us through the politics and policies surrounding food security.

“A Place at the Table” may be especially eye-opening for Marin residents, many of whom would be surprised to learn that over 20% - that’s 51,000 - of their fellow Marinites are in need of food assistance. Hunger is most visible in Novato, Marin City, or the Canal District of San Rafael, but it remains a hidden (and therefore even more potent) issue all over the county. In a region often perceived as unaffected by poverty and need, awareness is key to revealing and solving these problems. As Lori Silverbush said in an interview with PBS, “Everybody has a stake in fixing this ...it’s much harder to ignore something when you can no longer claim it as the other.”

After the film, Rev. Katharine Harts of the Fairfax COMMUNITY Church and Fairfax Food Pantry will speak about the local need in Marin. Every Saturday morning, the Fairfax Food Pantry provides healthy food to those who need it. The church lawn is covered with tables piled high with produce, eggs, and other goods - a food bank with the atmosphere of a farmers’ market. The Food Pantry always welcomes volunteers to help on Saturdays or donate paper shopping bags and food to the SF-Marin Food Bank.

Also speaking is Marc Zauderer, founder of an innovative Marin program called ExtraFood. The mission of ExtraFood is to help end hunger and food waste in Marin County by 2025. The organization makes it easy for food donors to connect with those in need. Volunteers sign up for shifts to pickup prepared food from grocery stores like Whole Foods, and restaurants like Mi Pueblo in San Anselmo, and deliver the food to nonprofits that help to feed the hungry. Zauderer was honored with the 2014 Heroes of Marin award.

The event will take place at the Fairfax Women’s Club, 46 Park Road, Fairfax. Doors open at 7pm and the 84-minute film will begin at 7:30pm. The film is sponsored by Sustainable Fairfax in collaboration with the Fairfax Volunteers and Fairfax Parks and Recreation. There is a $5 - $15 suggested donation.