“A Meal Can Change a Life,” TASK’s short, award-winning film has been accepted into this year’s Trenton Film Festival. The film will be a part of the Trenton Film Society’s inaugural Regional Documentary Festival that will take place on Saturday, May 18, at Passages Theatre at Mill Hill Playhouse in Trenton.
TASK’s film will appear during the 12:00pm – 3:00pm block this Saturday, May 18. It was selected to appear amongst ten entries appearing during the Saturday showcase. After the showing, TASK’s Director of Individual Giving Denise Barricklow and Creative Arts Specialist Frank Lettieri, Jr. – who worked together to produce, direct and edit the feature – will appear for a Q&A.
“A Meal Can Change a Life” tells the story of Deb Kisela, Walter Roberts, Todd Jackson and Sharon Horne, four longtime friends of TASK who credit the compassion and kinship they experienced at the soup kitchen with helping them to beat the odds against a range of challenges, including homelessness, addiction and unemployment.
“At the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, we often say people come to us because they are hungry, but they stay because our meals offer hope and the possibility of a new beginning,” says Barricklow. “‘A Meal Can Save a Life’ is a profound and moving film that shows how small acts of kindness have the power to transform lives.”
The film has already received a MarCom Gold Award honoring excellence in marketing and communications. Its inclusion at this year’s Trenton Film Festival is another special honor.
“In addition to powerful storytelling, the film illustrates TASK’s commitment to ethical storytelling, a practice that insists nonprofits have a special responsibility to tell stories in a way that respects the dignity and rights of the individuals they serve and the sensitive issues they address,” continues Barricklow.
“Walter, Deb, Sharon and Todd worked closely with the TASK team to shape the narrative of the film. We are proud of this collaboration, which offers a heartwarming testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community to uplift lives.”
The festival will take place this Saturday, May 18, with several blocks of showings. Attendees will have a chance to vote for TASK’s film as the audience favorite at a reception to end the day at 8:00pm. Tickets, which start at just $6, are available online at TrentonFilmSociety.org.
TASK, which has been serving the Mercer County region since 1982, serves roughly 11,000 meals, six days per week, at its Escher Street dining room and 40 community meal sites throughout Greater Mercer County. In addition, TASK offers a multitude of resources to encourage self-sufficiency and improve quality of life including case management, education, workforce development, creative arts and the provision of basic necessities. More information can be found on its website at www.trentonsoupkitchen.org.
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