From Fragmentation to Coordination: A Resilient Food System for Gaithersburg
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Team 1-L Proposed Solution → Food Security And Food System Resilience
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<aside> 📽️ Zero Hunger Starts with Coordination.
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Linked In Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nisargawinslet/ , www.linkedin.com/in/thabang-matlhafuna-63396220,
Nisarga Winslet Michael Madhu | Msc Finance and Trading| Queens University Belfast, U.K
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nisargawinslet/
Idowu Seriki | Manchester Metropolitan University | Master in Human Resource Management | Nigeria.
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/idowu-seriki-acipm-44941028/
**Thabang Matlhafuna | IMD Business School | S.A**
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/thabang-matlhafuna-63396220/
<aside> ℹ️ The main reason people in Gaithersburg do not have enough food is not a shortage of food; it is a lack of cooperation and coordination. Montgomery County has food banks, school meal programmes and active private donors, yet about 35% of residents experience food insecurity, and in some local schools more than 77% of pupils rely on Free and Reduced‑Price Meals. Food assistance is not centrally coordinated at county level. Different donors operate separately, logistical support is inconsistent, and there is no single county structure responsible for coordination. This leads to duplication, oversupply in some areas, shortages in others, and unreliable access for children at risk of poor nutrition. These weaknesses make the system less resilient during economic downturns or crises. The core issue is that the organisations involved in food distribution do not share systematic coordination, real‑time communication or clear, shared responsibility.
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