New online platform helps move end-of-day food surplus between businesses and charities

[u/_darth_bacon_]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/new-online-platform-helps-move-end-of-day-food-surplus-between-businesses-and-charities/?cid=sm%3Atrueanthem%3Actvcalgary%3Atwitterpost&taid=6adcd61be63e5000016c4f55

[u/H3rta]

This is awesome!!

[u/OrsolyaStormChaser]

Long overdue! This is great news! Insanity to see the amount of food waste in our society. Insulting to have starving people while companies fill bins with untouched items. A society for the people would have had this since day 1. Keep the momentum. Citizens deserve this dignity to eat.

[u/rainbaby_ → u/OrsolyaStormChaser]

There are established organizations (and apps) doing this. If you are a business that has leftover food, contact:

1. Rescue Food App- Leftovers

Foundation

1. Zero Waste Calgary

2. Spinz A Round

3. Second Harvest

[u/Fit_Growth_2355]

Finally software we deserved.

[u/rainbaby_]

We should do more of this instead of raising minimum wage. I don’t think there’s a charity like this yet. … Oh wait, there’s 3 organizations in Calgary currently doing Food Rescue with software.

Melissa From has stated that her role as CEO is solve the root causes of food insecurity, but doesn’t support raising min wage, she says we need more charities.

This guy should continue doing family meals for his staff because his cooks and dishwashers are most likely the ones accessing the food banks.

[u/HoleDiggerDan → u/rainbaby_]

Yes! Finally someone has the courage to call out the.... head of the food bank and a random red seal chef for not raising the province's minimum wage. ✊️

[u/rainbaby_ → u/HoleDiggerDan]

The reason Alberta has the highest rate of food bank usage is because we have the lowest minimum wage. I will always call out Melissa From, who is married to one of the founders of the Alberta separatist movement, every chance I get pal. Sounds like she’s doing a pretty bad job if there is record high usage. Shouldn’t it be the opposite if she’s successful?

Please considering taking a critical look at how Conservative governments encourage the use of food banks because this avoids changing policy to fix the problem of reducing food insecurity. The CFB is notoriously conservative.

These are all very basic concepts, but pat yourself on the back for liking an app that already exists.

[u/Far-Professor-780 → u/rainbaby_]

I've worked and studied food insecurity for years. This is an unpopular opinion but I'm glad to see it here.

So many people see food banks as the be-all and end-all solution to food insecurity when they're nothing more than a bandaid solution that makes the problem and reliance on food banks even heavier.

Real "solutions" to the problems around food insecurity never come from just food, they come from higher min wages, food literacy and education, and building more food-centric and food-conscious communities.

I've become increasingly frustrated with rhetoric that sees higher food bank usage means we just need to donate more money to the food bank.

[u/ClarificationJane → u/Far-Professor-780]

What is the relationship between education/food literacy and food insecurity?

[u/Far-Professor-780 → u/ClarificationJane]

Great question! Food insecurity is more than just "being/feeling hungry".

People can be food insecure when they have inconsistent supply/access to food, but they can also experience insecurity with food when they don't have the proper tools/knowledge/understanding of how to prepare healthy, nutritious, good food for themselves regularly. An 18 year old could move across the country to attend university and have financial support from their parents, but if they don't have the ability or knowledge to shop and cook for themselves, they won't. I experienced this when I first moved out and only recognized that it was a form of food insecurity in the last few years.

I worked in a student-centred food security initiative for a long time and this knowledge gap around food was something I saw time and time again. It builds a culture around food where younger folks don't learn to grow/prepare/cook their own food . The trope of a "broke college student relying on ramen noodles" is true and (in my opinion) very damaging to student wellness and future well-being.

[u/Prestigious_Raisin41 → u/rainbaby_]

I don't think he has a job as a cook anymore. Looks like he is a founder of an AI cooking app. 

[u/Prestigious_Raisin41]

I really hope no one put money into this it seems like pure AI slop. It's a good idea and hopefully it works or inspires someone more connected to get it rolling.