Photographer Seth Hancock was asked to make a documentary on a subject matter that meant nothing to him – Senior Citizens and Hunger. So he traveled across America to discover why senior citizens are the fastest growing group of people going hungry in America, why we treat senior citizens as second-class citizens, why he never cared about this issue and what can be done to make a difference in the lives of senior citizens in America.
The film turned out wonderful, and really makes an impact, but had it not been for Seniors First, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving senior citizens in Florida, it might never have seen the light of day.
“We got involved with the film after learning this important project was struggling due to a lack of funding” says Seniors First President/CEO Marsha Lorenz. “Seniors First was instrumental in securing a grant from the Central Florida Foundation that provided the necessary financing to bring the film to completion.”
Seniors First, one of the oldest and largest non-profit social service organizations in Central Florida dedicated to serving senior citizens, is now in it’s 52nd year.
“Simply put, we help seniors live safe, healthy lives in their own homes where they prefer to be. We offer a wide range of in home services and are also the Meals on Wheels provider for Orange County.”
1 in 6 senior citizens in the US struggle with hunger and don’t know where their next meal is coming from, explains Lorenz.
“1 in 6! Our seniors have nobody to speak for them. We need to be their voice and this film presents the clear, unvarnished truth about what many seniors in our own neighborhoods and communities are dealing with every day. We also examine the tremendous food waste in America and explore possible solutions. Nobody living in the US should be going hungry.”
The strength of Leftovers is how it demonstrates how senior hunger affects people from all walks of life, says Lorenz.
“We talk with a client who was a Hollywood silent film actress. She lives in Marin County, one of the wealthiest areas in the country and we also visit Owsley County Kentucky, the poorest. We filmed in Detroit, Los Angeles, Orlando, Austin and San Francisco and no matter where we went, there were senior citizens struggling with hunger. This is a nationwide problem. Senior hunger exists in every community in America.”
Most people are left gob smacked after watching the movie.
“The comment we hear most is “I had no idea this was such an issue.” People find the situations in the film heartbreaking and uncomfortable to watch but you know what else is uncomfortable? The fact that the people who fought our wars, built our communities and taught in our schools are going hungry is uncomfortable. Working your whole life and then feeling like you’ve been cast aside by society is uncomfortable. I don’t apologize for that. This film should make you uncomfortable. It should make you angry.”
“Leftovers” is now on VOD.
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Website: http://seniorsfirst.org/