Efforts by student volunteers and Mānoa Dining Services help community partners serve up to 900 meals per day

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 6, 2016 — Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, today applauds the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa), its students and dining services staff for their work in diverting more than 1,000 pounds of safe, nutritious food from landfills to those at risk of hunger. Because of these efforts, the university recently became the first and only Food Recovery Certified chapter of the Food Recovery Network in the state. Mānoa Dining Services is managed by Sodexo, a company known for improving the communities in which it operates through sustainable practices and community outreach initiatives.

Chapter members of Food Recovery Network volunteer along with the Mānoa Dining Services team to collect surplus food from the on-campus resident dining facility, Gateway Café. Since the chapter was established in December 2015, UH Mānoa has been able to make significant contributions to community partner Institute for Human Services, creating vital food budget savings at a time when the agency expanding its meal service to five shelter sites serving up to 900 meals each day.

“We are very proud to become Food Recovery Certified at Gateway Café,” said Donna Ojiri, Sodexo general manager of Mānoa Dining Services. “We are happy to be working with the Food Recovery Network Hawaiʻi chapter to do our part. We also hope to further increase our efforts throughout campus.”

The purpose of the Food Recovery Network certification program is to recognize and reward organizations for donating surplus food while also raising awareness about the benefits of food recovery. Earning certification through this unique program helps organizations like UH Mānoa further educate students and staff about food waste and food recovery while continuing to divert safe, nutritious food to people in need.

The Food Recovery Network is a non-profit organization that works with college students to fight waste and feed people by donating surplus food from campus dining facilities to organizations that fight hunger. Since its founding in 2011, the Food Recovery Network has grown to include chapters at more than 180 colleges and universities. These chapters have recovered more than 1.2 million pounds of food, diverting it from landfills and providing meals where they are needed most.

Sodexo Foundation, the nonprofit charitable arm for Sodexo, was an early supporter of the Food Recovery Network, awarding the organization its first large grant in 2013. Sodexo and the Food Recovery Network partner throughout North America to raise awareness about hunger and food waste, while encouraging the active participation of college and university students and staff.

Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The global Fortune 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations.

Learn more about the company at its corporate blog, Sodexo Insights.

Contact: Sam Wells, Sodexo, Inc., 301-987-4893, samuel.wells@sodexo.com