Giving-A-Way connects philanthropy and community activism by providing streamlined communication services for food distribution programs housed in religious institutions to decrease food insecurity within New York City’s underserved communities.
We aim to serve places of worship with food distribution programs in New York City Communities.
Give-a-way is an application that allows users to find local places of worship with food distribution programs to donate food to.
Rising prices on food and other necessities due to inflation have left underrepresented low-income people of color unable to buy food for their families. Supply chains for food distribution faced disruptions due to COVID-19 and increased consumer demand for food drastically. This raised food prices across the globe – increasing the severity of food insecurity among the already 811 million people struggling to make ends meet ( USGLC, “Covid-19 Brief: Impact on Food Security.”). These high prices persist today in today’s current economics. The people impacted the most by this are people of color.
Historically places of worship have been pillars of food and hygiene distribution programs in New York City. Places of worship have relied on food donations from food manufacturers, businesses, and individuals to supplement their food inventory. It is unfortunate that these forms of distribution lack a platform for collaborating with each other on the distribution of food.
There is an excess amount of food waste by NYC businesses every day that could be donated and help decrease food insecurity for people of color in the five boroughs. However, the current processes of food donation to food distribution centers, like places of worship, are not centered or streamlined and fail to bring all parties and stakeholders together to tackle food insecurity in NYC's underserved communities.
Give-A-Ways provides places of worship with food distribution programs with an application platform for communicating with NYC businesses interested in food insecurity philanthropic initiatives.
Key technical challenges are implementing authentication to our user's accounts to keep their information safe from hackers.
Extension opportunities include adding a map showing the users seeking food distribution programs with inventory near them.