Atlanta, Ga. (PRWEB) August 10, 2016 -- About 25 percent of Atlanta-area children have a surprising reason to be glad school is starting: they will get to eat lunch, and maybe breakfast too. But school meals don’t cover dinner, weekends or school breaks. Now there’s an app for that. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foodfinderga/id1120680132?mt=8
Apps are the best way to reach children who are food-insecure, meaning they sometimes do not have enough to eat, because three out of five low-income teens have access to a smartphone,
The FoodFinderGA phone app shows the closest food resources on a map along with hours of operation and contact information, and solves key problems in the process.
First and foremost, it’s private and anonymous. Hungry children don’t want to announce that three meals a day isn’t a given for their families. Aside from parents and guardians, it’s often teachers, counselors and food bank staff who are in-the-know about who’s at risk. The app is free to download for iOS and Android, and requires no contact information to install or use.
Second, food banks are typically open only a few hours a day a few days a week. Figuring out when and where is a challenge for a child, but not for FoodFinderGA. The app instantly pinpoints nearest resources on a map. Tap once to check hours and again to engage the phone’s navigator to direct the user to it via walking, biking or driving. The website app, http://www.foodfinderga.org, allows children to search for food using just the name of their school.
“Hunger can go unnoticed in our communities,” said Jack Griffin, 18-year-old founder of FoodFinderGA. “Many kids are afraid or embarrassed to ask for help, but they can rely on FoodFinderGA. Everyone deserves access to a meal when and where they need it.”
With 1.8 million food-insecure people, Georgia has the 5th highest rate in the nation.
About FoodFinderGA
FoodFinderGA is the fastest way to find free food resources in Georgia. Founded in 2014 as a web app, the nonprofit 501c3 launched a mobile app in July 2016 with a grant from the Arby’s Foundation. It uses geo-location technology and 3,000+ food resource sites to generate one-click maps and directions. The app is set to expand nationally. Learn more at FoodFinderGA.org.
Susan McLeod, FoodFinderGA, http://www.foodfinderga.org, +1 (480) 235-3283, [email protected]
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