Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Engineer: Amy Browne
Issue: Community concerns and opportunities
Program Topic: A Place at the Table—Responding to Hunger in our Midst
Key Discussion Points:
a) You have chosen to screen a recent documentary, A Place at the Table, to highlight the issue of hunger and inequality… how and why did that come about?
b) What do we know about hunger and food insecurity in this part of Maine?
c) What factors contribute to persistent hunger and food insecurity?
d) What programs are in place to address these issues, and what are the gaps? (SNAP, WIC, School Lunch program, Commodity foods)
e) What are individual communities and community organizations (yours and others) doing to address these issues and the gaps?
f) Tell some stories about who is affected, their circumstances, their strengths…
g) What do you hope the screening of A Place at the Table will accomplish to raise awareness and stimulate individual and community response?
h) What do you find particularly compelling about the documentary? What would you tell a friend or neighbor who you wanted to attend?
i) Against this backdrop, Congress is debating the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, which includes funding for food assistance… what is being proposed? Is there anything happening with the state budget that addresses or makes worse food insecurity?
j) Attending to food insecurity in the short term is important… what are ways forward to address the broader inequality in our country, where some have food and some do not?
k) Details about tonight’s screening and other contact info…
Guests:
A) Adam Lacher, United Way of Eastern Maine
B) Sister Lucille MacDonald, Emmaus Center, Ellsworth
C) Lisa Weisker
D) Rick Traub, Tree of Life Food Pantry, Blue Hill
E) Zoe Scott, Executive Director, The Grand, Ellsworth