N.Y. Food Bank Uses Digital System to Meet Growing Demand

As the economy’s downturn has increased the number of needy people seeking aid, a New York food bank has revolutionized its operations by introducing a computerized system that allows clients to fill their own food bags, writes The New York Times.

Patrons at St. John’s Bread and Life use a touch screen to make food choices and a swipe card to calculate how much they have used from a monthly allotment of points. The system, instituted in 2008, rewards clients for selecting healthier items and led to a partnership with an organization that introduced locally grown produce into the food bank’s stock.

Christine C. Quinn, speaker of the New York City Council, said she wants to introduce the digitized system into food pantries across the city.