Presenter: Sydney Riley Warren

Faculty Sponsor: Leda Cooks

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Communication and Media Studies

Session: Poster Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM, 163, C11

ABSTRACT

Food insecurity is a prominent issue, affecting one in seven people in the United States (Feeding America). Due to factors such as the pandemic, newly vulnerable populations were created leading to a higher demand for access to food and government assistance (Ritchie, Campbell, Cutter, Gall 2025). Western Massachusetts, specifically, has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the United States. In counties like Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden, one in two households are food insecure (Mass General Brigham 2025). Community food advocacy organizations are able to help combat these issues to an extent, but often fall short due to an increasing demand of supply. Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts is a food advocacy organization that is able to fill in the gaps that many others may miss. Through their four pillars: rescue, purchase, glean and grow, they are able to supply food pantries with fresh produce all over western Massachusetts. This documentary project focuses on what makes Rachel’s Table unique and ultimately how they fill gaps in food advocacy. Through the use of visual storytelling and interviews with staff and volunteers, this project highlights the important role community organizations play when dealing with immanent issues such as food insecurity.