FindFoodPantries wins Rep. Mike Levin’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 49th District
Rep. Mike Levin has named Justin Tam, a twelfth grader at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 49th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of FindFoodPantries, the student said, “I first noticed the problem of food insecurity in my community while volunteering at the food pantry at my church. I distinctly remember overhearing a young child mention having Cheetos for dinner one night, which made me realize the severity of the issue. Additionally, I noticed that many people who visited the pantry that day came simply because they happened to see a sign and were conveniently in the area. This experience highlighted the gap in accessible information for those in need. If people were more aware of the resources available to them, they could find help in times of need, rather than by chance.
To address this gap, I created FindFoodPantries, a web app that serves as a central repository for food bank information. The app is meant to be organized and easy to use, allowing individuals to quickly find nearby food pantries based on their location. It also acts as a call to action for the community, encouraging collaboration to expand and maintain an up-to-date directory of food bank resources. Many of the people who visited our church’s food pantry lacked a central source of information they could rely on. My goal with FindFoodPantries is to fill that gap by providing a simple, accessible platform for those seeking support, while empowering community members to contribute to the cause.”
This year’s Congressional App Challenge set new records, with an unprecedented 382 Members of the House of Representatives hosting competitions—surpassing the previous high of 374. An incredible 12,682 students from across the country participated, representing a growth of over 1,000 students compared to 2023. These talented students submitted an astounding 3,881 original applications, showcasing their creativity, passion for technology, and the limitless potential of America’s next generation of innovators. This surge in participation reflects the increasing excitement around STEM and highlights a bright future for American innovation.
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. This resounding show of bipartisan support emphasizes the critical importance of STEM education in today’s rapidly evolving world. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and each winning team is invited to showcase their winning app to Congress during our annual #HouseOfCode festival.
The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from the Broadcom Foundation, AWS, Rise, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
The 2024 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May of 2025, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.