Skip to main content

Cookie settings

We use cookies to ensure the basic functionalities of the website and to enhance your online experience. You can configure and accept the use of the cookies, and modify your consent options, at any time.

Essential

Plentiful: Seamlessly Connecting People with the Food they Need

Avatar: Maggie Brown-Kinneberg Maggie Brown-Kinneberg
Idea Submission for The People's Money:
Plentiful is a free tool that connects people with free food resources in a way that is dignified, private, and modernized. It's available in 9 languages via SMS, WhatsApp, web, and iOS and Android apps to reach everyone as digitally as possible and empower anyone anywhere in NYC’s five boroughs to quickly and easily find food they need. This tool has expanded to 12+ other states to strengthen dignity in the experience of accessing food. We envision a world where Plentiful's simple user experience and anonymized data insights are intentionally integrated with local public health and social service programs and processes.
What is the problem your idea aims to address?
If you’ve ever searched for free food, food pantries or food banks, you have most likely experienced the struggle: is "X" pantry’s information up to date and accurate? Can I receive support or services even if my English isn’t strong? Will I have to share my personal information, like income or housing status, in front of other people? Will I be stigmatized or will my data* be used against me? If I take the time to commute all the way to their location, will I have to wait in a long line? And after all that time, will they even have food for me? Plentiful can – and already does– solve for any and all of these problems! Through a simple and user-friendly interface, Plentiful’s Access Map lists over 40,000 food pantry sites across the country and designates those that actively use the platform for intake and scheduling versus those that are publicly sourced. When food pantries use the backend software for reservations (like making a restaurant reservation), any community member can input their eligibility information to streamline the check-in process before they arrive on-site. And all this can be done privately, securely, and in their preferred language – simultaneously reducing stigma, wait time (by an average of 80%), paperwork, and hassle, so folks can get the help they need and spend their precious time in other ways that are meaningful for them. *Dignity and Data privacy are top priorities for Plentiful – we never sell data, ever. Any community member can delete their data at any time. And if someone needs to visit multiple pantries, the other food pantries don’t have visibility to records outside of their organization. Neighbor data belongs to Neighbors, period.
Which groups does your idea focus on? Select all that apply
Youth (under 24)
Older Adults (65 +)
Public Housing Residents
Justice Impacted People
People with Disabilities
Limited English Speakers
Immigrants / Migrants
Veterans
LGBTQIA+ People
Parents
Unhoused People
Comment

Confirm

Please log in

Welcome to Participate, the Civic Engagement Commission's interactive website to engage New Yorkers in participatory budgeting. Please create an account to interact with all features available and make sure your voice is heard! You need an NYC.ID account to use Participate. If you already have an NYC.ID account, you can log in with it. If you don’t have an NYC.ID account yet, you’ll need to create one first. Once you have an NYC.ID, you can log in and start using Participate.

Share