A team of students at Ramapo College is using technology to make a real difference for local food pantries. Through an innovative project at the College’s Center for Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences (DMC Center), students developed a new app and barcode system that allows staff at the Center for Food Action (CFA) in Mahwah to scan, track and analyze inventory in real time, replacing the traditional manual tracking methods. “Actually, seeing the work we’ve been doing since the fall come together and be used in real time is pretty amazing,” said Emily Morra, a data science major and sports management minor.

The platform was completed in December, and it's now being tested. The system is helping staff streamline donation tracking, better understand what families need most and ensure food gets to the community efficiently. Additional information about the students working on the project: • Emily Morra – data science major, sports management minor from Mahwah, NJ. • Vedika Shaily – data science major from Dayton, NJ. • Prashant Shah – computer science major, mathematics minor from Parsa, France. • Bibhu Bhatta – computer science major from Frisco, Texas. • Tina Nosrati – computer science major, visual arts minor from Upper Saddle River, NJ.

This initiative was made possible, thanks to a private donation. “We have been supporting the Center for Food Action for years, and it was really the juxtaposition of Ramapo College and its entrepreneurial approach to using data science for good that caused us to choose this project,” said Stephen C. Daffron, of the Daffron Family Foundation, whose donation made the work possible. “We could give the money directly to CFA to feed more people once, but this project will enable them to see where the food comes from, which parts of the supply chain work best, how to optimize distribution, and ultimately help more people effectively.” Thanks to the students’ work, CFA staff are already seeing improvements in efficiency and the technology could soon expand to other pantries and nonprofits.

The project has also drawn the attention of PantrySoft, a leading provider of software for food pantries with over 8,000 clients, including CFA. The Ramapo College DMC Center is in discussions with PantrySoft about potential internships for students to integrate similar tools into their platform, a move that could significantly increase the impact of the students’ work.