January 17, 2013  The Ellsworth American, By Jennifer Osborn
BLUE HILL — Coming soon to a theater near you: a short film about the Tree of Life Food Pantry and Turn-Style Thrift Shop, which supports the pantry.  The three-minute film will be launched at The Alamo in Bucksport on Jan. 25.  The piece also will be shown before movies airing at the Stonington Opera House and The Grand Auditorium.  Rick Traub, a Tree of Life board member, said the film was created to raise awareness about the pantry and the thrift shop for those who might be in need as well as those who might be able to help.  “Most people don’t understand the scope of this issue and once they do find out about it, they’re willing to help,” Traub said.  The film, which was produced by Kane Lewis Productions, also is posted on YouTube. See http://youtu.be/vrYF4s_UKTc and at www.treeoflifepantry.org. Kane Lewis Productions, which is based in Sedgwick, is run by Dick Kane and Melody Lewis-Kane.  “We have been aware of the need in the community,” Lewis-Kane said. “We decided this would be a really good way we could donate some of our time. We’ve donated a lot of our time, as has Rick.” “What’s really amazing about it is it’s such a community effort — not just the pantry and the turnstile,” she said. “Noel Paul Stookey gave us that music.”  Several businesses and individuals donated to the effort, which was launched with a $5,000 grant from the Richard S. Petty Charitable Foundation.  “It’s a reflection of the communities we live in here on the peninsula,” she said. “How we are supportive of one another. Again, I think this area of Maine especially embraces people’s creativity. You don’t always have to do it the way everyone is doing it. I think it’s indigenous to the area and it spills over.”  Work will continue on the pantry film production.  Traub said two more versions will be created, one with statewide statistics on hunger and another with national statistics.  The group is currently working on an eight-minute film explaining the model used by Tree of Life and Turn-Style, which is using revenue from clothing sales to buy food for the pantry.  The hope is that other communities might emulate the Blue Hill model.

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