Thertell Tech

MODERNIZING FOOD BANK OPERATIONS

Give Your Neighbours the Dignity of Choice.

Why modern food banks are switching to the "Client Choice" model—and the data that proves it works.

The Hamper ModelThe "Old Way"

The Problem: Pre-packed hampers assume every family eats the same food.

High Waste: Food is left unused.

Dietary Issues: Hard to manage allergies.

Logistics: Heavy boxes are hard to carry.

The Points ModelPowered by FoodBank Helper

The Solution: Neighbours shop for their own groceries using a points budget.

Less Waste: Unwanted leftovers reduced.1

Smart Data: Weight per visit drops (10.4kg → 6.8kg).1

Dignity: Feels like a grocery store, not a handout.

Addressing Common Concerns

Worried about the transition? Here is what the data says about efficiency and fairness.

Actually, it can be faster. A comprehensive evaluation by NORC (Feeding America) found that while efficiency is the #1 fear before switching, it rarely holds up in reality.

In fact, many food banks reported that because they weren't spending hours pre-packing boxes, their volunteers had more time to interact with neighbours.

"not only does [a full choice model] take less time, but we can serve a lot more families."

Not with FoodBank Helper. Our software enforces limits automatically (e.g., "Max 1 Peanut Butter per month").

  • The "Scarcity Mindset" Solution: When neighbours know they can come back multiple times a month (tracked by our system), they stop hoarding2.
  • The Result: Instead of taking 4 bags of milk "just in case," they take 1 bag for this week, knowing they can get another next week. This smooths out your inventory flow.

Never. The tablet does 100% of the math.

Volunteers just scan the barcode. If a family is out of points or over a limit, the screen turns red. No awkward calculations required.

Stop Guessing. Start Knowing.

In a Hamper model, you are guessing what your neighbours need. In a Shopping model, they tell you what they need.

Identify "Unmoved" Stock

See exactly which items (like those random cans of chickpeas) have been sitting on the shelf for months.

The "Targeted Ask"

Stop asking donors for "food." Use your data to ask for specific items: "We have enough soup. We need Peanut Butter."

Smart Purchasing

As noted by Food First NL, this model lets you prioritize buying fresh, high-demand items with your cash donations instead of stocking fillers.