Don't We All Deserve A Place at the Table?

One of my favorite spots in Columbia, one of our city's gems, I think, is The Nickelodeon Theater.  Before I had children, (when my nights were a seemingly endless barrage of opportunities to go out and experience the city), my girlfriends and I went to see at least a movie a  month, sometimes more, at The Nick. 

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Fast forward a few years; we all now have children, and getting a babysitter is reserved to 1-2 nights a month.  Jaunts to The Nick aren't nearly as regular.  However, they showed A Place at the Table this past Monday, and I told my social work students that I'd give them extra credit to attend this poignant documentary film.  And in doing so, I got to go to The Nick on a weeknight.  And I got to see this raw and smart and provocative film about hunger in America.  (Side note: The film's soundtrack features The Civil Wars, who are amazing.  I blogged about them here.)

The problem is getting worse, not better.  And, you know that obesity problem that our country has, well it's inextricably tied to our hunger problem.  And our factory farm problem.  And the problem we have in our country of taking care of big corporations as if they are people, and caring not for the people themselves.

No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, having 1 out of 2 children in our country experiencing hunger is good for no one.  Hunger affects a child's brain development and health and learning capability...and that affects everyone's future.

Next week is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  Please do something to help the kids and families experiencing hunger and homelessness.  Watch this film.  Call, e-mail, or tweet your representative and let them know that you don't want them to cut food stamps (SNAP).  Do something locally to help combat these problems. 

A quote I posted on the blog I write for St. Lawrence Place a few weeks ago puts words to this issue as succinctly as I can imagine: "The future which we hold in trust for our own children will be shaped by our fairness to other people's children,"  Marian Wright Edelman.

Hunger is a social justice issue.  Do something.

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Thursday's Thinking of Food (a day late)

Sorry this is late, but here is some food news, a freebie, and an upcoming foodie event in Columbia:

*The FDA has drafted guidance on "The Judicious Use of Medically Important Anti-Microbial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals."  Woohoo--finally, a step in the right direction to ending, or at least controlling, the antibiotics used in factory farms.  Questions remain about the next steps, but you can help by not waiting for the FDA to take action, but by asking your legislator to pass the Prevention of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act, which would withdraw the routine use of 7 classes of antibiotics vitally important to human health from food animal production.  I read about this here.

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*Earth Fare is giving away FREE watermelons this 4th of July weekend!  Click here for a printable coupon.

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*Palmetto Palate is July 22nd, 6-9 PM, at 701 Whaley Street.  This event is sponsored by the SC Farm Bureau, and will include great local food prepared by local chefs, an open bar, and a silent auction to benefit Friends of Farm Bureau PAC.  For tickets, ($50 each), call my friend Kristin Lavender at 803.936.4219.

I hope everyone has an amazing 4th of July weekend--what are your plans?
I am leaving this evening for Boca Grande, FL, and will return hopefully well-rested,  tanned, and ready to host my 3-year old nephew's birthday party in my back yard next weekend!

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