Bread for the World and Participant Media have announced an alliance for the launch of the upcoming documentary film, “A Place at the Table,” which coincides with Bread for the World’s 2013 Offering of Letters.

The film and the campaign, which share the same name, launches today (March 1).

“One in 6 Americans does not always have enough to eat, and nearly 900 million people around the world struggle with hunger on a daily basis,” said the Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “A major documentary like A Place at the Table is important in moving hunger to the top of our national priorities.”

A Place at the Table shows crucial efforts to feed Americans who don’t have enough food and those on the front lines in the fight against hunger. The documentary is produced by Participant Media, which also produced Food Inc. and Inconvenient Truth. It is distributed by Magnolia Pictures.

“We are excited to join forces with Bread for the World on ‘A Place at the Table’ and its social action campaign. Activating communities of faith is a crucial element to getting our country to focus on hunger, make it a priority, and have lasting impact,” said Chad Boettcher, Participant’s executive vice-president of social action & advocacy

“A Place at the Table” raises awareness of the importance of federally-funded nutrition programs. Despite the tireless efforts of local churches and charities to deliver food to the tables of vulnerable Americans, those efforts combined are only the equivalent of 4 percent of federal expenditures on U.S. anti-hunger programs. The federal government provides 23 times the amount of food assistance as does charity.

“We are excited about this major opportunity to raise awareness and inspire people to act. Isaiah reminds us that God’s table is abundant for all people, ‘a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines, of rich food filled with marrow…’” added Beckmann. “That vision of God’s bounty informs the advocacy work of Bread for the World.”

Bread for the World’s 2013 Offering of Letters petitions President Obama to set a goal and work with Congress to enact a plan to end hunger. It also urges members of Congress to protect programs vital to hungry and poor people as they seek solutions to balance the budget.

The documentary is accompanied by a social action campaign housed in a first-of-its-kind National Action Center, operated by Participant Media and its national and local alliance partners. Staring March 1, the public can access by calling (855-48TABLE), clicking takepart.com/table, or texting FOOD to 77177.

The center provides a variety of resources, including Bread for the World’s 2013 Offering of Letters toolkit and a movie study guide, “No Place at the Table.” Both campaigns provide Bread activists and people of faith with more avenues for action, at both the local and the national levels.

For more information on Bread for the World’s 2013 Offering of Letters: A Place at the Table, visit www.bread.org/ol.