Patients at Hawaii State Hospital recently converted their reward tokens to cash to make a $189 donation to the Hawaii Foodbank.

The tokens are given to patients who participate in programs aimed at reaching their recovery goals, state Health Department officials said. The tokens can be traded for food or clothing, or converted into a small cash allowance—100 tokens are worth $5.

Hospital nurse managers Robert Burns and Mike Quinn heard some patients saying they had donated to the food bank in the past and were interested in helping by donating some of their tokens, according to the Health Department.

Burns, Quinn and five other nurse managers told patients how they could contribute, and many patients then decided to convert a large portion of their reward tokens to cash for a contribution.

“;We know that one way to strengthen your own growth and awareness is to help others that may be less fortunate,”; Burns said. “;Through their generous gift, the patients feel good that they are helping to support the Hawaii Foodbank.”;

The food bank is holding an Oahu-wide food drive this weekend, with a goal of collecting 500,000 pounds of food and $500,000.