Volume 9, Issue 2, February 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Share and Care: A Food Donation Web Application

V. Sarvasri Sowmya Lakshmi1, M.N.V. Surekha2, P. Sasi Sanjana3, R. Jyothi Sai Durga4, M. Charan Sri Sai5
1,3,4,5
B.Tech Student,2Asst.Professor,
Sri Vasavi Engineering College(A), Pedatadepalli, Tadepalligudem – 534101.

Abstract:- Food is an indispensable necessity for every It plays a pivotal role in order to achieve the donor
human being, serving as a fundamental requirement for coordination, and the equitable allocation of food resources.
our survival, growth, and overall well-being. In today's In today’s world people are wasting more food than they
society, a significant number of people are unable to consuming. In countries like India 795 million, nearly 7.6
afford or meet their daily food needs. However, in billion people, don't have enough food to lead a healthy life.
today's fast-paced world, the issue of wasting food has That is approximately one out of nine people on earth. India
become distressingly common. This Share and Care- ranks 6th in food wasting and about 1.3billions tons of food
Food donation web application is a comprehensive is being wasted per year. This system serves as the bulwark
solution designed to address the critical issue of food that connects surplus food resources with the ever-present
waste and hunger in the current world. Food donation demand for nourishment, ensuring that no edible food goes
web application is a comprehensive solution designed to to waste and no one goes to bed hungry.
address the critical issue of food waste and hunger in the
current world. Food donation web application is a I. LITERATURE SURVEY
comprehensive solution designed to address the critical
issue of food waste and hunger in the current world. This Ref [1]:”Ayesha Anzer, Hadeel A. Tabaza, and Wedad
system aims to bridge the gap between the surplus food Ahmed, Hassan Hajj Diab” introduces the "Food Reduction
sources and those in need by facilitating the efficient App" to address food waste in the UAE. The mobile
redistribution of excess amounts of edible food application connects restaurants with surplus food to
charitable organizations. This the best platform individuals in need, reducing waste and improving food
connects the food donors which includes restaurants, security. It utilizes the Android platform, Firebase services
caterers, cooperative dining rooms, hotels and even for authentication and data management, and image
individuals with food rescue organizations like NGOs processing algorithms. The app allows restaurant and user
logins, food listings, cart management, and requests for food
Keywords:- Food Donation, Donors, Charitable pickup. Future enhancements may include support for
Organizations, Food wastage, Food Redistribution, Python, various donating users, geolocation services, date and time
Flask Framework. tracking, and cross-platform compatibility.

INTRODUCTION Ref[2]:”YasithChandula,AkilaKavinda, Thushal

Shaminda, SachinthaGunaratne, D.I. De Silvaand
The Food Donation Management System is a digital DulanjiCooray”-The “Food-For-All Web Application for
platform designed to streamline and enhance the process of Donation Management" is a web-based platform designed to
donating and distributing surplus food to those in need. In address food insecurity by connecting individuals and
densely populated countries such as India, the problem of organizations willing to donate with those in need. This
food wastage is a distressing concern. In a world where system allows users to create donations, post requests for
abundance and scarcity existing side by side the effective food, and organize fundraisers. Admin approval is required
management of donation of food stands as a beacon of hope for organizations to register and for the creation of
for addressing the two critical issues like food waste and fundraiser programs to maintain reliability and prevent
hunger. Food management is not merely administrative task, fraudulent activities. The system aims to enhance trust and
it represents a significant and noble endeavour that unites transparency, ultimately working towards ending hunger and
food donors with charitable organizations, aiming to create a promoting sustainable agriculture. It utilizes technologies
sustainable and compassionate societyThis collaborative like ReactJS, NodeJS, and MongoDB. In conclusion, this
effort seeks to bridge the gap between surplus food system serves as an effective tool to combat food insecurity
resources and those in need, thereby addressing the pressing and has the potential to make a significant impact.
challenges of both food wastage and hunger in a socially
responsible and compassionate manner. This Website is a Ref [3]: Mrigank Mathur, Ishan Srivastava, Vaishnavi
cutting-edge website technology solution which provides Rai, Assistant Prof. Mr. S. KalidassAahar - Food Donation
and enhance the efficient management of surplus food App”has proposed mobile application aiming to reduce food
resources, mitigating food wastage and alleviating food waste by connecting donors with those in need, particularly
insecurity.It is a structured approach to minimize, handle, in restaurants and social gatherings. The app includes three
and repurpose food waste generated across various sectors, main modules: Food Donor, Food Receiver, and Admin.
including households, restaurants, and industries. While it offers several advantages, such as cost-
effectiveness and 24/7 service, it requires internet access and

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ISSN No:-2456-2165
may have some security challenges. Overall, the application connection point between the system and the database,
seeks to efficiently address the issue of food waste and ensuring seamless data flow.
provide a platform for donating various items, including
food, clothing, books, and utensils. The management of user details and food donation
information is handled by a MySQL database, designed
[4] “Kruthika V, Lavanya H.R, Mahalakshmi E.H, meticulously to organize and retrieve data effectively.
Ranju P.S.R, Ms. H.L Priyanka, Ms. K.S Sindhu-Integrated XAMPP server acts as a robust connection point between
approach for food donation system,restaurant food the system and the database, ensuring seamless data. Flask-
demanding forecasting using machine learning, and global SQL Alchemy is utilized to simplify database interactions
food waste analysis”-The research paper presents an through Pythonic code. This integration streamlines the
innovative approach to combat food waste, incorporating a process of accessing and manipulating data, contributing to
food donation website and machine learning for sales the overall efficiency of the system.
predictions. It facilitates the connection between food  Requirement Analysis: In the initial stage of
donors, NGOs, and individuals to efficiently redistribute developing a food donation management system, the
surplus food. Machine learning models like XGBoost and journey commences with a comprehensive
Gradient Boosting Regressor enhance inventory understanding of the project's requirements. The
management through accurate sales forecasts. Additionally, development team identifies the essential features and
global food waste patterns are analyzed for insights. This functionalities necessary for the efficient management of
technology-driven solution aims to mitigate the food waste food donations. These may encompass functionalities
crisis by bridging the gap between excess food and those in such as NGO login, food types, expire date, map for
need, offering a sustainable approach. overall searching.
 Planning: Once the requirements for the food donation
[5]”Dr.T. Sankar, R.Raghavi -Review in Food Wastage management system are well-understood and defined,
Reduction Through Donation Application” -This article the project moves into the planning phase, employing an
discusses a proposed system for reducing food wastage and Agile methodology with focused development cycles
facilitating donations through a mobile application. The called sprints. The development team compiles a backlog
system aims to connect donors and recipients, helping to of user stories, categorizing them based on their
prevent food waste while efficiently distributing excess importance and relevance to both food donors and
food. It addresses the problem of food wastage, particularly NGOs. This Agile planning approach ensures that the
in densely populated countries like India, and simplifies the project maintains flexibility and adaptability while
process of food donation. The article describes the system's prioritizing the most valuable and relevant features to the
architecture, user interfaces, and benefits, emphasizing the food donation process.
potential to reduce food wastage and provide resources to  Design: Instead of pre-designing the entire system, Agile
those in need. promotes a just-in-time design approach, concentrating
on the immediate tasks within the current sprint. In the
II. METHODOLOGY context of food donation management, this approach
involves creating wireframes or prototypes for the user
The project embraces the Agile software development interface, defining the data structures for storing food
methodology, which emphasizes a flexible and adaptable donation information, and establishing the interaction
approach. It involves breaking down the development mechanisms between different system components. By
process into smaller, independent segments, allowing for the doing so, Agile enables the project team to focus on
addition of new features and adjustments as the project designing elements essential for the ongoing sprint,
advances. Agile development promotes an iterative cycle, ensuring that each phase of development remains closely
which means that work is continuously refined, and the aligned with the evolving requirements.
project can evolve organically based on user input and  Development: During the development phase, the Agile
evolving needs. This dynamic and responsive approach is team focuses on coding and building the software. They
well-suited for a project like this, ensuring that it remains take the user stories and features outlined for the sprint
adaptable and efficient throughout its development. and translate them into functional software components.
For the food donation management system, this phase
The technology stack chosen for the system plays a involves developing the features for streamlined food
pivotal role in ensuring its effectiveness and efficiency. The donation, creating the necessary database structure to
Python Flask framework serves as the backbone, providing a store data related to food donations, and implementing
micro web framework that is well-suited for the project's the processes for managing food donation listings. This
scale. This framework facilitates the development of web development process is iterative and adaptable, ensuring
applications with simplicity and flexibility. For the user that the evolving requirements and priorities are
interface, Bootstrap, CSS, and HTML are employed to addressed effectively.
create an appealing and user-friendly design. This frontend  Testing: As developers work on features and complete
combination enhances the overall visual experience and user stories, automated tests are frequently run to ensure
ensures accessibility across different deviceshe management that new code doesn't introduce regressions or issues.
of user details and food donation information is handled by Manual testing is conducted to validate that the software
a MySQL database, designed meticulously to organize and meets the acceptance criteria defined in the user stories.
retrieve data effectively. XAMPP server acts as a robust

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ISSN No:-2456-2165
This ongoing testing process helps maintain the quality more user-friendly system for managing food donations and
of the software throughout development. In the context reducing food wastage.
of food donation management, similar testing practices
are employed to ensure that the system functions as IV. PROPOSED SYSTEM
intended, with a focus on features related to food
donation, tracking, and user interactions In Proposed System, a web application, developed
 Review: At the end of each sprint, stakeholders have the using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap as front-end and
opportunity to provide feedback on the work done. Python-Flask as Backend and server Xampp Server and
Simultaneously, a retrospective meeting is held to reflect MySQL for data storage and requires internet connection.
on what went well and what could be improved in the This an application consists of two phases one is Donor
next sprint. These meetings are essential for continuous Module and NGO Module. It rather conventional systems
improvement and alignment with user needs. In the that require cumbersome logins and complex registration
context of food donation management, similar feedback procedures, our Food Donation System offers a user-
and retrospective meetings are conducted to ensure that friendly and efficient platform where donors can contribute
the system evolves effectively, addresses the needs of surplus food without any need for prior registration. This
food donors and NGOs, and continues to improve in simplicity is central to our mission, as it encourages more
subsequent iterations. individuals and organizations to participate in the noble
 Deployment: Following successful development and cause of food donation.
testing, the new features and updates are deployed to our
project. This approach enables frequent releases and At the heart of our system is the belief that anyone, at
allows users to benefit from new features quickly. any time, should be able to extend a helping hand to those in
 Feedback: Feedback collection is a fundamental aspect need. Donors can seamlessly input details about their food
of the Agile approach. Gathering input from users and donations, including item descriptions, quantities, and their
stakeholders is vital for shaping the application further contact information, all in a matter of moments. No prior
and addressing any encountered issues.In the context of commitments or memberships are required – it's a one-click
food donation management, the collection of feedback process that empowers everyone to make a positive impact.
from donors, NGOs, and other stakeholders plays a
crucial role in refining the system and ensuring it For our network of non-governmental organizations
effectively meets the requirements of all involved (NGOs), we've introduced a unique feature&an interactive
parties. map that simplifies the process of locating and collecting
 Continuous Improvement: Continuous improvement is food donations. NGOs can easily search for available
a cornerstone of Agile methodology, promoting ongoing donations in their vicinity, filtering by location, food type,
enhancements and adaptability throughout the software and pickup availability, and view them on a map. This
development process. In the context of food donation innovation is aimed at expediting the food donation process,
management, this Agile approach allows for a flexible ensuring that surplus food gets to those who need it
and user-centric system that evolves and improves based promptly and efficiently.
on user feedback and changing requirements. It ensures
that the food donation system remains relevant, On the technical side, the back-end is powered by
effective, and aligned with the needs of food donors and Python-Flask, a robust and versatile framework. This choice
NGOs. of technology ensures that the system operates smoothly and
handles data efficiently. The data generated and processed
III. EXISTING SYSTEM within the system is stored in a MySQL database, a reliable
and widely-used database management system. This not
In existing system, users face several challenges. They only ensures data security but also allows for effective data
often have to depend on their social network or external retrieval and management.
websites to find information about available food options.
This reliance on others or third-party websites adds an extra For the system to function seamlessly, an internet
layer of manual effort, making the process less efficient and connection is necessary. This enables real-time data
user-friendly. The lack of user-friendliness becomes a exchange and interaction, making it convenient for both
significant hurdle as users struggle to access essential home donors and NGOs to participate in the food donation
details and arrange to collect food from them. This process.
challenge is further compounded by the fact that the
information provided by administrators may vary depending V. IMPLEMENTATION
on the location of the home, leading to confusion and
inefficiency. Additionally, finding nearby homes that offer The success of a food waste management project
the desired type of food in a timely manner is another hinges on effective implementation at every stage of the
obstacle users encounter in the existing system. Many of the process. rom the initial collection of food scraps and
existing applications do not offer a substantial database for leftovers to donating the food each step demands meticulous
storing and managing food details, further limiting the execution. In the context of food donation management, the
system's capability to provide a comprehensive solution. implementation process is crucial for the project's success.
These limitations highlight the need for an improved and The initial step in implementation revolves around

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Volume 9, Issue 2, February 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
establishing a robust system for food donation, collection, tests to ensure quality. Emphasizing ongoing improvement,
and distribution. Agile allows iterations through sprints to add new features
and enhance existing ones. Deployment involves preparing
The project begins with defining objectives, the system for production and training users. Maintenance
assembling a skilled team, and establishing communication and support address issues and optimize performance, while
channels. Requirements gathering involves identifying monitoring and evaluation assess system impact on reducing
essential features, including food donation and inventory food waste and supporting charitable organizations. Agile's
management, and creating flexible user stories. Planning flexibility ensures that the system evolves in response to
includes organizing requirements into a backlog and user feedback and changing requirements. This ongoing
prioritizing them for sprints. The design phase adopts a just- monitoring and improvement cycle is vital to ensure the
in-time approach, focusing on immediate needs and creating long-term success of food donation management initiatives.
design elements. Development entails coding features like This may involve measuring the reduction in food and feed
food donation, inventory tracking, and user interactions. the hunger.
Testing is a continuous process, with automated and manual

Fig. 1: System Architectire

This website mainly consists of few key features. Here  User Interface Development: To design user interfaces
are the following features. for various functionality, HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap
 Donor Interface: This interface should be simple and were utilized. Flask links these interfaces to the
user-friendly, allowing donors to input details about their underlying database via its routing capabilities, allowing
food donations without complex registration. It should users to interact with the system in a seamless manner.
include options for providing item descriptions,  Flask scripting in Python: The core Python file of the
quantities, and contact information. Food Donation System utilizes Flask scripting to
 NGO Interface: The NGO interface should enable establish routes, construct models, and establish
charitable organizations to search for available food connections to the MySQL database. This scripting is
donations, view donor contacts information, and essential for coordinating the diverse components of the
communicate with donors. A map feature can help food donation system, ensuring seamless operations and
NGOs locate and coordinate pickups efficiently. interactions among its various elements.
 Database:The Food Donation Management System  Mapping Integration: Implement a map that displays
incorporates a MySQL database to systematically store the locations of donors, available donations, and
and manage user and food item information, ensuring charitable organizations. Markers on the map can help
efficient data organization and retrieval. This tailored users locate donation points easily
database design optimizes functionalities related to  Execution:To initiate the Food Donation Management
tracking donations and fostering communication System (FMS), commence by launching the Flask app
between donors and NGOs. within the project directory. Execute the command
 Database Schema Design: Creating a database schema 'python driver.py' in the terminal, thereby activating the
was an important stage in the implementation process. It web server and rendering the system accessible through
entailed organizing the database tables in order to a web browser.
efficiently handle user information, food information,
and other important data.

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ISSN No:-2456-2165
VI. RESULT AND ANALYSIS securely storing data in the MySQL database. To enhance
the functionality of the system, we harnessed several
This Food Donation Management System was Python-Flask libraries, including render_template, request,
designed with the overarching mission of ensuring food flash, redirect, url_for, and SQLAlchemy. Additionally, for
security for individuals who encounter meal-related a visually appealing and user-friendly interface, we
difficulties. The system's active user engagement in incorporated Bootstrap and other external CSS to stylize the
searching for food not only fosters trust but also encourages user interface. The interfaces were thoughtfully designed,
donors to contribute more generously. For the development featuring side navigations, menus, various icons, and
of this system, we employed a straightforward technological buttons for easy navigation and a clear understanding of the
stack. On the front end, we leveraged the capabilities of system's functionalities.
HTML5, while the back end was powered by Python-Flask.
The server-side scripting was facilitated using phpMyAdmin  Home Page: This is a common interface for both Donor
on an Xampp server, seamlessly integrated with a MySQL and receiver or NGO.
database to enable dynamic content management, thereby

Fig. 2: Home Page

 Services: This interface provides the user with respect to while recipients can enter the receiver portal by clicking
entries. Users encounter an intuitive interface offering on the 'Receiver' button, ensuring a user-friendly
seamless navigation. Donors can effortlessly access the experience.
food donation portal by clicking the 'Donor' button,

Fig. 3: Services

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Volume 9, Issue 2, February 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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 About Us: This is just an interactive page for Food resources with those facing hunger. Our mission is to
donation management system. We are dedicated to reduce waste, address food insecurity, and build a more
efficiently managing food donations, connecting surplus compassionate, sustainable future.

Fig. 4: About us page View

 Donor: After clicking on the donor button from our date, expiry date of food, quantity, phone number
service page it is navigated to this donate food page ,location and description of the food and submit it to the
where the donor can seamlessly access this portal food donation management system where this
without any login information. Here the donor has to information is stored through my SQL database.
give respective details like name, type of food, donation

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ISSN No:-2456-2165
Fig. 5: Donor View

 Thank you: This is a thank you page view after the thank you page and the donor can come back to
clicking on submit button, the donor is navigated to this homepage.

Fig. 6: Thank you page view

 NGO Login: When users click the "Receive" button on can proceed. Once logged in, NGOs gain access to a
our services page, they are immediately taken to the range of functionalities within the Food Donation
dedicated NGO login page. At this point, NGOs are Management System, including the exploration of
prompted to log in, where they input their email address available food options and the seamless management of
and password for secure access. This login mechanism their interactions within the platform
serves as a gateway, ensuring that only authorized users

Fig. 7: NGO login portal

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 NGO view: After successfully logging in, users will be information or place an order, NGOs simply need to
automatically directed to the 'Get Food' portal, providing click on their desired item. Following this action, the
NGOs with an intuitive interface to browse and select selected item will be promptly removed from the 'Get
food items that match their preferences. When a donor Food' page, ensuring a dynamic and responsive platform
submits food, the details are displayed in a structured where diverse food options are continuously visible for
table format within the 'Get Food' portal. To obtain more other NGOs to explore and select.

Fig. 8: Get food portal view

 MAP: A map feature is integrated to facilitate the and navigate geographical areas of relevance within the
visualization of nearby locations, exclusively accessible Food Donation Management System.
to NGOs. This tool allows NGOs to efficiently identify

Fig. 9: Map View

VII. CONCLUSION edible food resources. The application aims to satisfying the
food requirement of needy people through donations and
In conclusion, our project was dedicated to mitigating provides simple and informative way to connect those who
the critical issue of food wastage by designing a simple and have extra food and those who need food. Our proposed
innovative food donation website. This digital platform was solution can reduce food wastage by facilitating food
designed and implemented to serve as a pivotal solution for sharing in local community using mobile technology. This
efficiently connecting food donors and those in need, work is an initial step towards designing a better system to
thereby reducing the unnecessary wastage of perfectly reduce daily food waste.

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FUTURE ENHANCEMENT

This effort marks the initial stride in our ongoing

mission to create an improved system that effectively curbs
daily food waste. Looking ahead, the potential for enhancing
this application is vast. In the future, we envision the
integration of the following features to further amplify its
impact and usability:
 Adding the time and date of each meal shared by users.
 The system will be globalized i.e Make the application
available worldwide so anyone can help and find the
needed people from anywhere in the world.
 Addition of food banks to our application so if the users
cannot find someone to donate, they can give the food to
a food bank
 Adding cart for each individual NGOs account.

REFERENCES

[1]. Ayesha Anzer, Hadeel A. Tabaza, and Wedad Ahmed,

Hassan Hajj Diab,”A Food Wastage Reduction Mobile
Application” -
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8488190
[2]. Yasith Chandula, Akila Kavinda, Thushal Shaminda,
Sachintha Gunaratne, D.I. De Silvaand Dulanji Cooray
- Food-For-All Web Application for Donation
Management”,e-ISSN: 2250-0758 | p-ISSN: 2394-
6962 Volume-12, Issue-5 (October 2022)
https://doi.org/10.31033/ijemr.12.5.11
[3]. Mrigank Mathur, Ishan Srivastava, Vaishnavi Rai,
Assistant Prof. Mr. S. Kalidass Aahar - Food Donation
App International Journal of Scientific Research &
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2021, ISSN (Online): 2395-566X
[4]. Kruthika , Lavanya H.R, Mahalakshmi E.H, Ranju
P.S.R, Ms. H.L Priyanka, Ms. K.S Sindhu-Integrated
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demanding forecasting using machine learning, and
global food waste
analysis.DOI:https://www.doi.org/10.56726/IRJMETS
42802
[5]. Review in Food Wastage Reduction Through Donation
Applicationhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/3
47946627
[6]. Mobile Application for Excess Food Donation and
Analysis
http://www.ijirset.com/upload/2018/n3cit/13_CONFE
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