{"678974":{"#nid":"678974","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Students Help Food Pantry Double Its Impact","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs part of their Capstone Design course, a team of eight seniors in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Emade a transformative difference for Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries (NCM), a nonprofit that serves families in need in Gwinnett County. Now Georgia Tech 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 \u2014 nearly twice as many as before, meaning more families in the community can now count on consistent support during tough times.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELimited resources make it difficult to keep up with rising demand, and NCM\u2019s goal to distribute one million pounds of food annually by 2026 seemed out of reach. Thanks to the Georgia Tech team, that goal is now within grasp.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecognizing that storage is another hurdle, the team analyzed NCM\u2019s 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.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe students didn\u2019t 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.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to know that we are a part of the reason why these shelves are so full.\u0026nbsp; It\u2019s 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,\u201d said team member Jacqueline\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EOlsen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI was so impressed with their ability to relentlessly dig into what the problem is and get to the very bottom of what we\u2019re trying to accomplish,\u201d said Ryan Jones, executive director of Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries. \u201cWe accomplished so much more than we set out to in the first place.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech team didn\u2019t just solve problems for NCM \u2014 they helped change lives, showing how students can make a lasting difference in their communities.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA team of Georgia Tech seniors as part of their senior design course helped Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries (NCM) double the number of families it serves each month. By implementing a Python-powered notification system, optimizing warehouse storage, and introducing an inventory management system, the students provided innovative solutions that expanded NCM\u0027s capacity to meet growing community needs. Their project showcases the power of teamwork and engineering to create meaningful change.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Seniors transformed operations at a local nonprofit through their capstone project, using teamwork, Python technology, and innovative solutions."}],"uid":"35798","created_gmt":"2024-12-18 14:49:54","changed_gmt":"2024-12-18 15:50:42","author":"Ayana Isles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675886":{"id":"675886","type":"image","title":"25-R10410-P25-011.jpg","body":null,"created":"1734533652","gmt_created":"2024-12-18 14:54:12","changed":"1734533652","gmt_changed":"2024-12-18 14:54:12","alt":"Students walking with food bank\u0027s executive director.","file":{"fid":"259560","name":"25-R10410-P25-011.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/18\/25-R10410-P25-011_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/18\/25-R10410-P25-011_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4824521,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/12\/18\/25-R10410-P25-011_0.jpg?itok=OO3zyLtZ"}}},"media_ids":["675886"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAyana Isles\u003Cbr\u003ESenior Media Relations Representative\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["aisles3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}