In Hawaii, 1 in 7 people struggle with hunger, according to Feeding America, a national hunger organization.

Aloha Harvest “rescues” surplus food from places such as hotels, restaurants, food distributors, caterers and grocery stores, and events such as weddings, funerals and baby luau, and delivers them on the same day to some 180 social service agencies that feed the hungry.

Since its beginnings in 1999, the organization has collected and distributed more than 16 million pounds of food.

Aloha Harvest collects food from sources certified food-safe. That means food is refrigerated, frozen or stored properly to ensure safe consumption.

The challenge, says Executive Director Ku‘ulei Williams, is persuading businesses that making donations won’t leave them vulnerable to liability lawsuits when their food is passed on. Not many know about the federal Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which protects businesses from liability when donating to a nonprofit.

Williams added that Aloha Harvest’s pickup saves businesses the cost of disposing of excess food, and that the business can get a tax write-off. Aloha Harvest even provides containers to hold donated food.

Ultimately, she said, rescued food averts waste and keeps excess food out of landfills.