Story by Abby Warren

Last night at the Bagdad Theater on Hawthorne Blvd, our partners at Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon along with the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, Oregon Faith Roundtable Against Hunger, Tuv Ha'Aretz, and the Oregon Area Jewish Committee- filled almost every seat in the house for a showing of the documentary "Food Stamped".

As a benefit for another one of our partners, the Oregon Food Bank, this showing brought together community members of different faiths and backgrounds to learn about the reality of living on a Food Stamp budget. The humorous yet informative documentary explores the challenges low-income families and individuals face trying to survive on an average of $50 a week to meet nutritional needs. It also introduces ways to increase access to affordable healthful produce like community gardens, SNAP and EBT accessible farmers markets, school garden programs and more.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer, a leading advocate of shifting farm subsidies away from commodity producers and delivering support to small farmers, introduced the documentary. He spoke of the importance of creating a U.S. Farm Bill that would create opportunity, strengthen communities, and better provide for our families.

After the film, the Audience had the joy of watching a video presentation on Southeast Portland's Abernethy Elementary Garden of Wonders program- a true pioneer in the national garden education movement.

How can you can help to keep families in our community out of hunger? Visit Food Stamped's website, check out the Produce for People program, volunteer at the Oregon Food Bank, take a trip to a Farmers Market, learn more about the Farm Bill, join a garden work party, get involved!

FOOD STAMPED official trailer from Yoav Potash on Vimeo.