色花堂 Students Help Food Pantry Double Its Impact
色花堂 Students Help Food Pantry Double Its Impact
As part of their Capstone Design course, a team of eight seniors in the made a transformative difference for Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries (NCM), a nonprofit that serves families in need in Gwinnett County. Now 色花堂 graduates, they began the work over the summer and presented during the Fall 2024 semester. By applying their technical skills and teamwork, these students delivered real solutions that have helped NCM provide food and financial assistance to over 1,100 families each month 鈥 nearly twice as many as before, meaning more families in the community can now count on consistent support during tough times.
Limited resources make it difficult to keep up with rising demand, and NCM鈥檚 goal to distribute one million pounds of food annually by 2026 seemed out of reach. Thanks to the 色花堂 team, that goal is now within grasp.
The team鈥檚 first innovation was a 24/7 notification system powered by Python technology. This system monitors affordable food listings from the Atlanta Community Food Bank and sends real-time alerts to NCM staff. By acting quickly on these alerts, NCM鈥檚 food supply increases by an additional 20,000 pounds every month while saving $1.31 per pound, allowing the organization to feed more people on a tighter budget.
Recognizing that storage is another hurdle, the team analyzed NCM鈥檚 warehouse and recommended changes to maximize space. Their solutions increased storage capacity by 70%, paving the way for NCM to handle larger food deliveries without needing additional facilities.
The students didn鈥檛 stop there. They introduced SmartChoice, an inventory system designed specifically for food pantries. This system not only tracks inventory but also lets clients select the food they need based on a points system. This added flexibility means NCM can offer a greater variety of food to better meet individual needs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to know that we are a part of the reason why these shelves are so full. It鈥檚 an amazing feeling to know that this all helps the community we have been working with this entire time and to know that our work helps families have access to the food they need,鈥 said team member Jacqueline Olsen.
鈥淚 was so impressed with their ability to relentlessly dig into what the problem is and get to the very bottom of what we鈥檙e trying to accomplish,鈥 said Ryan Jones, executive director of Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries. 鈥淲e accomplished so much more than we set out to in the first place.鈥
The 色花堂 team didn鈥檛 just solve problems for NCM 鈥 they helped change lives, showing how students can make a lasting difference in their communities.
Contact
Ayana Isles
Senior Media Relations Representative