Turning Surplus Into Service
Food to Share set out to reduce food waste, combat hunger, and support environmental sustainability in California’s Central Valley. Anchored Web Solutions helped bring this mission online with a fully custom platform that let community partners post food donations and allowed recipients to claim and verify them via a unique code system—even through basic text messaging.
From design to deployment, Anchored Web built the platform in step with the organization’s evolving needs. What began as a simple listing tool grew into a full-featured system for gleaning coordination, food tracking, and real-time verification, serving churches, kitchens, and nonprofits across Fresno County.
Case Study: The Unique Challenge
Coordinating Donations Across a Diverse, Low-Tech Community
The project had to serve a wide range of users—from grocery store donors to distribution centers and volunteers—many without reliable tech access. The platform needed to be lightweight, intuitive, and flexible enough to support real-world food redistribution logistics with minimal training or hardware.
UX/UI Design
Created a clean, easy-to-follow interface for donors, transporters, and recipients to navigate with minimal effort.
Web Development
Built a secure, custom platform that manages donations, claims, PIN verification, and digital signatures.
Text Messaging Integration
Implemented SMS-based PIN system to make the donation process accessible to those without smartphones.
Mobile Optimization
Designed with mobile-first principles, ensuring all features work seamlessly on any phone or tablet.
Signature Capture
Integrated browser-based digital signature functionality for donation verification and recordkeeping.
Donor & Recipient Dashboards
Each user type has tailored access to donation history, invoices, and subscription tracking.
The Solution
From Field to Table, Digitally Tracked
Anchored Web delivered a streamlined platform that lets donors list items and recipients claim them using PIN verification.
- Claims and donations work with SMS, no app or login required
- PIN-based verification + digital signature ensures traceable, secure handoffs
- Donations can be scheduled, edited, or marked as claimed in real time
- Food recipient dashboards help track claims and update contact info
- Fully web-based—no scanners, apps, or installs required
The Impact
A Smarter Way to Feed the Valley
Food to Share now operates with a digital system that makes food recovery faster, more transparent, and more inclusive. Whether it’s a truckload of groceries or a box of gleaned oranges, the platform enables trusted transactions and verifiable records for both tax and safety purposes.
Thanks to its SMS features and low barrier to entry, the platform made it possible for small churches, remote pantries, and informal gleaners to participate alongside large institutions. It’s a powerful example of how smart web tools can support real-world food equity.
