Non-profit hunger relief organizations rely on the goodwill of donors for their in-kind cash, food donations and other supplies to alleviate hunger, reduce human suffering and save lives. However, these organizations struggle with changing demand and supply patterns, disruptions caused by very low donations even though they must make strategic
distribution decisions. Food distribution forecasts based on times series models can be useful for these decisions. Yet, it is plausible that food distribution by hunger relief organizations (and demand by the people in need) are driven by certain underlying factors. In this research, we used Visual Analytics (VA) to study the effect of certain underlying factors on the forecast generated for food distribution to the aid recipients. Specifically, we used already tested forecasting techniques to predict the expected quantity of distributed food for the underlying factors identified.
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This content will become publicly available on March 15, 2025
Predicting Food Distribution with Underlying Factors for a Hunger Relief Organization
Hunger relief organizations often estimate food demand using food distribution data. Leveraging Visual Analytics (VA) and historical data, we examine how underlying factors like unemployment, poverty rate, and median household income affect forecasts for aid recipients’ food demand. Our study reveals that incorporating these factors enhances forecast accuracy. Visual Analytics empowers decision-makers to integrate field knowledge with computational insights, enabling more informed decisions. This innovative approach presents a valuable tool for charitable organizations to strategically improve forecasting precision in the dynamic landscape of hunger relief.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2100855
- PAR ID:
- 10528144
- Publisher / Repository:
- Taylor & Francis
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition
- ISSN:
- 1932-0248
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 17
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Food distribution forecasting underlying factors visual analytics Hunger relief
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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