by Marina Andalon
During the holiday season many people reflect and give thanks for everything they have. During the joyous season people and organizations, like MAZON like to contribute as best as they could and give to the people who struggle with getting a meal.
‘This is Hunger’ is a mobilized exhibit, in the form of a 53 foot long, 10 foot high and 1,000 square foot big rig, with a double expandable trailer. ‘This is Hunger’ is a community engagement campaign, started and funded by MAZON.
Abby Leibman, CEO of MAZON said, “The process has been three years, from the conception of ‘This is Hunger’ to today. It is a huge undertaking and we ultimately want this experience to be both an immediate impact along with a lasting impact.”
MAZON, is a national nonprofit organization began 30 years ago. Till this day they work to end hunger in the United States and Israel. One of their key strategies is to educate its synagogue partners and the larger Jewish community about hunger and engaging at the state and federal level to ensure that people have access to nutritious food.
‘This is Hunger’ is open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Also hoping to inform and educate people all across the country about the shocking statistics of how many people go hungry.
In 2015, an estimated 42.2 million Americans lived in a hood insecure household, including 29.1 million adults and 13.1 million children. This information was taken from Feeding Americas’ website.
Food insecurity refers to USDA’s measure of lack of access at times to enough food for active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.
MAZON wants to mobilize the Jewish community to take action to end hunger.
When people enter the parked vehicle they go on a journey that could change their views about the people who struggle with hunger. Inside people sit around a long wooden table sharing their stories and struggles they face.
This is an experiential installation on wheels. The exhibit has two modes, allowing people to choose a 45-minute experience or a shorter 20 to 30 minute experience. The hope of the exhibit is to encourage people to raise their voice for the millions of Americans who go hungry everyday.
“I want people to feel the reality of food insecurity. These stories they hear are from actual human beings. The statistics are so high, and shocking people need to know,” said Leibman. “I want people to feel engaged and to help people move out of food insecurity systems and move forward to into self sufficient way of life.”
‘This is Hunger’ is starting their tour in the Greater Los Angeles area and it may be due to the hunger statistics in the Los Angeles County. In 2014 Los Angeles County had 1,393,170 food insecure people, again provided by Feeding America.
‘This is Hunger’ launched their debut in Culver City on Nov.16 and will continue to stay in the Great Los Angeles area. They will be at Santa Monica College Nov.23 – Dec.1 The exhibit is completely free, but reservations are recommended.
‘This is Hunger’ will depart Southern California Dec.18. They will begin to travel the country, making stops in Tucson, Dallas, Baltimore, New York City, and many more.
For more information visit, http://mazon.org/ .
marina@smdp. com
