BSU Students Create App That Combats Food Insecurity

If you are living paycheck to paycheck you know how tight things can get. One unexpected expense and if you're like me, it cuts into your grocery budget. For some people, the budget is so tight that they don't know where that next meal is going to come from. This new app, developed by students at BSU, can help out. 

We've seen shocking statistics lately from the Idaho Food Bank that says 1 in 6 kids are food insecure. More often than we care to realize, the only meals some kids are getting are breakfast and lunch at school. College students also face very tight budgets and the old joke about living off of ramen noodles is the reality for many. A study in 2016 shows that nearly half of students at Boise State are food insecure.

According to an article on idahonews.com, about 800 students and staff at BSU are now using an app that sends them an alert when free food is nearby.

Often times, when events are held a lot of food, goes to waste. This new app helps less food go to waste while helping out those who need it most.

The app was created by students in the Games Interactive Media and Mobile (GIMM) group and is still being tested, but it can be downloaded in the Apple Store and Google Play. Search Bronco BEAM and you can feel a little less nervous about where your next meal is going to come from.