BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Is the future of fighting hunger powered by artificial intelligence?
In Brooklyn, a first-of-its-kind food pantry opened recently, offering fresh and culturally sensitive nutritious food with dignity to families in need.
The Met Council unveiled the state-of-the-art pantry warehouse at 5361 Preston Ct., calling it America’s first AI warehouse and pantry. The warehouse is 22,000 square feet— or four basketball courts.
“This is the first of its kind AI-driven pantry,” CEO of Met Council David Greenfield said. “Yes, it’s an AI-backed warehouse. We are using it to make sure the food gets to the right people in the right neighborhoods. Different communities want different foods.”
Greenfield said the AI helps with efficiency, used as cutting-edge technology to fight hunger.
“We can tell you which pantries need more food and less food, which have specific needs,” Greenfield said. “It’s so successful, Harvard Business School did a study on this work here in NYC.”
More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State
Nearly 2,500 people are being served every month, just from this pantry alone and 225,000 people are being served by this warehouse each year.
Families can now order their groceries online using a point system based on household size, eliminating long lines and restoring privacy and choice.
This new pantry is also making history as part of the largest kosher and halal food distribution system in the United States.
“I’m incredibly proud the Jewish community has stood up and become this non-profit helping people in need and build this facility,” Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said.
The Met Council hopes this model will inspire communities across the country.
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