FoodBook

Home Page

Inspiration

After having a conversation with a grad student about food inequality and disparities in communities. We began to search for a way to help solve at least a small part of this food inequality. Knowing that restaurants, food pantries, and grocery stores usually have excess food that gets thrown out, we wanted to create a platform where the food can go to someone in need instead of the trash. We knew that solutions similar to this already exist, but it primarily involves the restaurant or third-party donor to organize transportation to a mainstream source, such as a food pantry. Essentially, we wanted to create a method where this middleman was cut out and those in need of food could get it directly from the source; in addition, this will be more convenient for the donor because they will no longer have to organize transportation or delivery methods of all their extra food. At the most basic level, FoodBook is the “social media” platform where those in need of food can find free food near them at any time.

What it does

It provides a platform for restaurants, grocery stores, and food pantries to let their community know where they can access food near them. Restaurants, grocery stores, and food pantries can fill out the form to be given access to post in the forum, this means that everything that is in the forum is authorized. If restaurants or grocery stores have food they were going to throw out, they can instead inform their community about it by making a post. Food pantries can inform their community of their hours and events. Community members can sign up to receive emails whenever there is a new post.

How we built it

We used the web creation platform Editor X to collaboratively work on this website however we ran into some challenges before getting to this point.

Challenges we ran into

Initially, we wanted to create these exact same ideas using HackDuke provided resources such as Wix and ddomain However, Wix did not allow for more than one person to work on the website at a time and the aspects of ddomain that we wanted to use were behind a pay wall. So, we had to switch our ideas and use a different platform that did not have these issues, which led us to begin using EditorX, which is also a part of Wix.com Ltd.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

As novice hackers, we are most proud of completing the website and realizing the goal we had in mind in such a short amount of time. We are also happy with the UI of the website and its overall coherence, as well as the ability to host forums that companies and food providers can use.

What we learned

We learned that together we can make an impact. As this was our first Hackathon, we learned how to collaboratively reach an agreement and compromise when we needed to. We quickly assigned each member a given task based on what our priorities for the website were.

What's next for FoodBook

Right now, there is only one forum, and it is for the Durham Community. We want to expand this from just Durham to other cities and states. Food insecurity is a nationwide issue and more needs to be done about it. We can create new chapters for new cities that wish to provide food for the most vulnerable in their communities.