It may come as a shock to many people that 50 million Americans—one in six people—do not know where their next meal is coming from.

The issue of food insecurity is at the center of the film “A Place at the Table.”  “I don’t expect anyone to do anything until we tell them it’s an issue,” says Lori Silverbush, one of the directors, along with Kristi Jacobson.

The documentary, released 1 March in theaters, iTunes and On Demand, highlights the disconnect between food production and hunger in America.  There is plenty of food to go around, yet millions of Americans still rely on charitable organizations to get a meal.

The film follows three Americans who struggle with obtaining a proper meal.  All three live in food deserts, areas that are not supplied with fresh fruits or vegetables and rely heavily on processed foods.

“Top Chef” co-host, Tom Colicchio, and Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges both appear in the documentary and are advocates for reform in government food programs.  Bridges formed the End Hunger Network in 1983 to combat youth hunger, and Colicchio used his personal life to bring a awareness to the issue.

“I grew up in Elizabeth, NJ. Seventy percent of the kids there qualified for free or reduced lunch, and there were thousands of kids in school,” says Colicchio.

While the film certainly has a political undertone, Jacobson and Silverbush showcase the importance of charitable organizations and the impact they have on Americans struggling with food insecurity.  They urge audience members to not only contact their representatives in Congress, but also get involved in their own community.

Issues with hunger do not escape our own area. The Capital Area Food Bank delivers 33 million pounds of food annually, half of which is fresh produce.

Bridges sums it up with one of the most powerful lines of the film: “This is about patriotism. Do you feel OK that one in four kids in this country are going hungry?”