"Gather: Combating Food Insecurity with Accessible Solutions" by Claudia Maldonado

College - Author 1

College of Liberal Arts

Department - Author 1

Graphic Communication Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Graphic Communication

Date

3-2025

Primary Advisor

Hocheol Yang, College of Liberal Arts, Graphic Communication Department

Abstract/Summary

t Throughout my college experience, I have met countless students struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle, in large part because they do not have the resources to cook healthy meals, are on tight budgets, lack transportation, and simply do not have the time. Through my senior project, I aim to address the issue of food insecurity for college students by completely redesigning and prototyping a concept developed collaboratively with my team members, Callie Russo and Reilly Yuen, during the UX Fest SLO competition (Maldonado, Russo, & Yuen, 2024). This intuitive app, Gather, would link food-insecure college students' CalFresh profiles to connect them with nearby food supplies. The app will offer community-driven delivery choices, collaborations with food banks and charitable organizations, and integrated nutritional education. Additionally, the app would feature AI-powered recipes and inventory forecasting to maximize an individual's food management while reducing waste.

Available for download on Sunday, March 15, 2026

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