Smart Food Rescue Inventory Management wins Rep. Albio Sires’s 2021 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s Eighth District

When asked what inspired the creation of Smart Food Rescue Inventory Management, the student said, “COVID 19 has disrupted our life for the past year and a half. As a result of the outbreak, many were left jobless and hungry. For a long time, I searched for ways to help the community until I came across an opportunity on Jersey City’s website last year to help distribute food from local restaurants to homeless shelters. While searching for ways to help the community, I came across an opportunity on Jersey City‚Äôs website last year to help distribute food from local restaurants to homeless shelters. The first time I went to a shelter, I was floored by the scene: a long line outside the door, a crowded hallway, and a ground littered with masks and trash. The atmosphere was gloomy and depressing, with the residents looking worn out and employees overworked. Being able to witness that up close and personal inspired me to take action.

During my volunteer trips, I noticed the number of people who could be accommodated and fed was limited, and food donations came in various amounts. There was no way for me to estimate the amount of food until I got to the restaurant or bakery. A few times I saw a lot of food was left on the kitchen floor, and the shelter’s management told me they didn’t want any more food that day. Other times, restaurants only had enough food for two or three meals.

I was determined to find a more efficient way to distribute the food donation to those in need and make sure the shelters have the right amount of food. For this reason, I created a web application that lets food kitchens track the inventory, and food donors notify their food donation before the delivery. This way, we can dispatch food to the most in need food shelters depending on their food inventory.

It gives me great satisfaction to know that my food delivery efforts have made a difference in our neighborhood. With this app, I hope to further improve the food donation delivery experience to further reduce food waste.”