A new web page has been launched to track the need for food banks and food programs in Grey Bruce.
The United Way of Bruce Grey, Bruce Power and Nuclear Innovation company NPX have created a virtual platform intended to help local food programs.
A joint release says, “With the rising cost of food and economic pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, many in our community are struggling with hunger and food insecurity.”
It says the United Way has seen a dramatic rise in the need for things like meal programs. United Way of Bruce Grey Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn says food programs, the United Way and other organizations have been coordinating to help bring food to more people in the region. Dobbyn notes, Habitat For Humanity Grey Bruce has been offering the use of its trucks to move supplies around the region to those who need it.
Dobbyn says this new app/web page is designed by local start-up company NPX as a data collection platform. It allows food programs to capture and share
their data and to show their impact in the community. It will capture data on food that is collected and distributed, and also include information on demographics of community members who are using foodbanks and meal programs, while tracking volunteer efforts in the region.
Dobbyn says,”Data is a very important part of the food story because it tells our donors, members of our community, and decision-makers what’s happening and how important it is to solve these issues.”
The app allows foodbanks and meal programs to enter data, download reports, and create dashboards that visualize their impact and food insecurity trends in their communities. Anyone in the community can view dashboards that illustrate how foodbanks and meal programs are used and how the needs may be growing.
Bharath Nangia, Chief Innovation Catalyst at NPX says, “When United Way presented us with the opportunity to help, our team of data scientists and app developers were
excited put their skills to use to create this innovative platform.”
NPX, Bruce Power, and the Community Foundation Grey Bruce provided funding for food scales to enable each program to weigh produce and more accurately capture the amount of food being collected and distributed.
Bruce Power VP of Corporate Affairs and Operational Services James Scongack says it’s another part of their current campaign to support the health of the community during the pandemic, saying “We are committed to supporting our community this holiday season through our Be a Light: Beating COVID Together campaign, while helping organizations such as the United Way respond to the increased needs of those in our communities.”
You can see the database at www.foodbrucegrey.com.
Organizations that run a food program can learn more and register for the platform by contacting food@unitedwaybg.com. If you would like to support the United Way with food programs in our community visit www.donatetoday.ca.