MANOA, Hawaii (KHON2) -- Students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa are participating in an important mission to help feed families around the state. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The initiative is part of the Food Recovery Network, a campaign launched in 2016 that aims to feed families and prevent thousands of pounds of food from entering Hawaii's landfills. Student volunteers banded together with Sodexo, UH Student Housing Services and Student Life and Development to bring the initiative to life and help Hawaii residents battle food insecurity. Hawaii Foodbank, AIA Honolulu ‘CANstruct’ solution to food insecurity Graduate student Haley Nakamura leads volunteer efforts. She gathers and weighs excess food from Gateway Cafe and Campus Center Food Court before handing it off to the Institute for Human Services. On Friday, Nov. 22, Nakamura was joined by student volunteer Stacey Keruwa to weigh and deliver 195 pounds of recovered food to IHS. Stacy Keruwa and Haley Nakamura loading car with food donations. (Courtesy: University of Hawaii) Beef brisket being served at the Gateway Cafe. (Courtesy: University of Hawaii) UH Mānoa student Haley Nakamura and East-West Center Fellow Stacy Keruwa collect food. (Courtesy: University of Hawaii) According to UH, the recovered food included beef brisket, clam chowder and fresh green salad. IHS guests enjoyed the salad the same night, while the rest of the items were saved for the next day. 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. We're really glad that the Food Recovery Network volunteers come to pick up and help fight food insecurity in our community. Gwen Nakamura, University of Hawaii graduate student Sodexo marketing specialist Marcie Moribe said the Food Recovery Network prevented more than 15,000 pounds of food from entering landfills. Nakamura and UH officials are calling on more students to help collect, weigh and drive the food to IHS. “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," Nakamura added. Check out more news from around Hawaii Students who are interested in participating should email [email protected].