Kroger’s Zero Hunger/Zero Waste Initiative Identifies Children In Need of Food

The City of Cincinnati, 84.51° – the data analytics division of Kroger – and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital are working together to make it easier for the area’s most impoverished children to access walk-able food donation sites. As part of The Kroger Co.’s Zero Hunger/Zero Waste initiative, the organizations are identifying where children throughout Cincinnati are most in need of food during the pandemic.

“We know this pandemic means that thousands of people are hurting economically, and sometimes literally going hungry,” said mayor John Cranley. “It is true that more people in our city are utilizing food bank services at a higher rate than ever before. By helping families and food providers locate spaces to distribute and gather food, we make it easier to feed the hungry in our city. “

Using data science and predictive analytics, 84.51° was able to discover gaps in accessibility of food distribution and create plans to broaden coverage and availability. The analytic maps are available here: https://cincinnati-coronavirus-covid-8451.hub.arcgis.com. The map and website contain information for food distribution agencies and helps individuals locate food assistance centers within a 1-mile (~1.6 km) radius from their homes. Data was provided by the City of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s.

“At Cincinnati Children’s, our vision is to help ensure every child in Cincinnati is thriving,” said Robert Kahn, MD, MPH, lead for Community Health at Cincinnati Children’s. “With COVID-19, we became increasingly concerned about the rising rates of childhood hunger and food insecurity, which we know has a direct impact on child health. By collaborating with the City and 84.51°, we now know more precisely where vulnerable children live and how to get better every day at helping them.”