Collaborative consumption has gained cache in part as a reinvented method to swap or share things on a large scale.  Generally new technology is the driver however the maker movement is achieving the same thing through personalized or customized solutions.  These two trends along with the effort to move toward a more sustainable society have conspired to produce a low-tech approach to hunger in Brazil that meets the hungry where they are.

The “Street Dish” initiative is the work of anonymous citizens going by the Makers Society, who have affixed labels onto trash bins reading (roughly translated) “Leave foods that are still in use for consumption.” The notices wrap around tubes jutting out from the cans, allowing individuals to hang bags of leftovers, say, or restaurants and markets to leave extra grub or produce in plain sight.

The idea is to give the homeless and/or hungry places they can go to find free food, without having to dig through trash to find it.

Leah’s Pantry in San Francisco and Feeding America San Diego and SuperFood Drive have taken food donations a step further by creating a holistic model for change –  providing both food and health to their clients.  The food pantries commit to offering healthier foods through their pantries and they’re given infrastructure support to ensure they can safely keep and distribute these foods to their clients. They commit to deliver nutrition education and cooking skills along with their food donations.  Finally, they provide their clients a toolkit that includes simple, seasonal recipes that incorporate food bank foods and nutrition messaging for their clients.

The model is managed through quarterly meetings, site visits, and ongoing training ensure the program continues to make overall health and wellness is a priority.