But for the Grace…

Marty has a big heart, but is mentally unstable.He thinks he used to work for secretive government agencies. Bobby is eight years old and embarrassed that his mother has to come to the food pantry. He’s afraid his best friend, Jason, will find out. Victor Kronenberg used to be a short haul truck driver. His body is now being ravaged by Parkinson’s disease. These are but three of the eleven characters portrayed in But for the Grace… Based on nearly one hundred interviews with food pantry clients, volunteers, and staff, But for the Grace… tells the stories of the people who are forced to rely on food pantries in order to put food on their tables, putting a true face on hunger in the US.

Written and directed by David Eliet and performed by Bob Jaffe, But for the Grace… arrives at FringeNYC after public acclaim in its premiere and touring performances. In this time – in this economy, the need is greater than ever. Food banks and food pantries are in short supply, more and more people are finding themselves unable to make ends meet, unable to feed their families. This is not a problem that just affects the homeless – far from it. With humor and pathos, But for the Grace… through its sensitive portrayals, makes us realize that the time for action is now.