“The purpose of this initiative is to increase access to information that can lessen food insecurity, food inaccessibility and stigmas surrounding hunger,” said Amit Sharma, professor of hospitality management and director of the Food Decisions Research Laboratory. “This involves students conducting research into community organizations that provide free food and finding optimal approaches to present this information to those in need.”
With the Free Food Map, users can find free food distribution sites in their area. After selecting a location, users can discover the site’s name or affiliate organization, address, distribution hours, food distribution eligibility requirements and contact information.
“Our group has been working on the map since 2022, including an international collaboration with a team of students in France,” Sharma said. “Students are continuously expanding the map to cover additional parts of Pennsylvania and developing outreach strategies to more widely share this information across the state. We are also working to eventually expand this initiative to include neighboring states.”
The Food Decisions Research Laboratory is committed to conducting empirical research in behavioral economic analysis and evaluating the costs and benefits of decisions associated with food away from home and food service environments.
The lab creates controlled experiments involving decisions and modifying “real environments” where choices are made. Experiments are focused on individuals, whether they are consumers or food service supply chain employees.
Fatmah Almeer, a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in hospitality management and social data analytics; Keira Jones, a second-year undergraduate student majoring in hospitality management with a minor in labor and human relations; David Homan, a third-year undergraduate student majoring in hospitality management with a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation; and Jennifer Manta, a third-year undergraduate student majoring in hospitality management, have supported this project and the lab’s research efforts.
The Free Food Map is an ongoing project developed with local community partners. Feedback and comments can be emailed to Kimberly Impellitteri, research and teaching labs coordinator in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management.
About the Penn State School of Hospitality Management
Established in 1937, the Penn State School of Hospitality Management is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected schools of hospitality management. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral programs prepare global leaders with a rigorous, diverse curriculum focused, since its inception, on engaged scholarship, featuring partnerships with Penn State's Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, and top global hospitality brands. It is also home to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society. New to the school’s portfolio is an innovative and focused Master of Professional Studies in Hospitality Management graduate degree program.