It’s hard to relate to the fact that more than 40 million Americans are hungry in this country. While it may be easy to shrug that number off and assume it’s not relevant to small communities like those here in the Roaring Fork Valley, the hard reality is that there are many among us on the Western Slope currently struggling to feed their families. We are talking about teachers, police officers, ranchers and other hard-working people.

This may be surprising to many, and it also may be surprising how close this issue is to the valley. The documentary, A Place at the Table, provides a very personal perspective of hunger and highlights a fifth-grader named Rosie from Collbran, who shares her own story about how hunger impacts her life. The film speaks to the hardships faced by those in Collbran and how a local church procures food from the Food Bank of the Rockies to provide for members of their community.

I was very fortunate to spend my childhood in Glenwood Springs. My father was an FBI agent stationed here and my mother taught at GSHS, and I know how much people here care for each other. A Place at the Table shows that hunger affects our neighbors and entire communities. During one scene, a local police officer from Collbran talks about needing to get food from the church to feed his family. For me, this was a defining moment; if our own public servants need help with putting food on the table, then we need to open our eyes and get serious about this problem.

The good news: This issue is one that can be solved. As the board president for Hunger Free Colorado, I would like to invite my former neighbors and friends to learn more about the solutions to eradicate hunger in our communities. Join us at the Glenwood Springs Recreation Center for a free screening of A Place at the Table on Aug. 27, beginning at 6 p.m.

William Browning

Board chair, Hunger Free Colorado

Denver