Since the launch of the state’s first Food Recovery Network chapter in 2016, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student volunteers have helped to feed hungry families, and to divert more than 15,000-pounds of food from landfills. It’s important work as nearly a third of Hawaiʻi residents are food insecure—meaning they can’t access the food they need to thrive—according to the Hawaiʻi Foodbank.
Haley Nakamura, a graduate student in nutritional sciences in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, currently leads the volunteer efforts to gather and weigh excess food from the Gateway Cafe and Campus Center Food Court and deliver it to the Institute for Human Services (IHS) every other week.
“I think it’s really important not just for the recovery of food and prevention of food waste, but also giving back to the community that I grew up in, I think is something that’s really cool as well,” Nakamura said.
On a recent Friday, Nakamura and fellow student volunteer Stacey Keruwa, who is also a fellow at the East-West Center, weighed and delivered 195 lbs of recovered food, including beef brisket, clam chowder and fresh green salad.
The salad was served to IHS guests that night and other items were chilled, reheated and served the next day.
Call for volunteers
Marcie Moribe, marketing specialist with Sodexo Hawaiʻi, which runs food operations of the UH Mānoa Dining Services, a partnership with Student Housing Services and Student Life & Development, said there will always be excess food even though they try their best to manage how much is produced.
“We’re really glad that the Food Recovery Network volunteers come to pick up and help fight food insecurity in our community,” she said.
If more students volunteered, Moribe added, UH Mānoa could donate more and have an even bigger impact. More help in collecting, weighing and driving the food to IHS is needed. If you are interested in volunteering, email Moribe.
Nakamura added, “It would be a really great way to get in touch with the community and give back a little bit and help us to move towards a healthier future and increase access to food.”
- Related UH News story: Students recover surplus food to feed homeless,
