Help us nourish NYC’s Asian American Elders with food, love, and joy

Help us nourish NYC’s Asian American Elders with food, love, and joy image

Heart of Dinner addresses food insecurity, social isolation, and loneliness amongst Asian American older adults living in significantly under-resourced and underinvested communities. Your gift provides Heart of Dinner care packages that feel like home and remind Elders they are loved and never forgotten. Since 2020 supporters like you have helped deliver more than 200,000 culturally thoughtful meals to Elders in New York City.

What your gift supports

Each Heart of Dinner care package:

  • Provides about three days of nourishing, culturally comforting meals bought from local small businesses owned by BIPOC, women, and LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs.
  • Includes a handwritten note of love and encouragement in the Elder’s native language.
  • Is hand-illustrated by volunteers, often saved and displayed by Elders in their homes as a reminder they are seen and cared for.

Suggested gifts:

• $30 nourishes one Elder with a home delivered care package this week

• $120 nourishes one Elder for a month

• $1,200 nourishes ten Elders for a month

• $3,120 nourishes an Elder couple with weekly care packages for a year

• $10,000 funds half the care packages needed to nourish nearly 700 Elders for one week.

Each donation supports food, delivery, program staff, and our work with neighborhood small businesses that help nourish our Elders.

Why your support is urgent

Asian American older adults face deep economic hardship and isolation.

  • 1 in 3 Asian American older adults in New York City live below the poverty line.
  • 28% of Asian American older adults over age sixty five live in poverty. Language, cultural, and technology barriers block access to basic services for many.
  • Social isolation, racism, and language barriers increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and serious health decline, especially for older Asian women.

Without culturally thoughtful food and regular human connection, many Elders face hunger, isolation, declining health, and spend long stretches of time alone. Your gift helps close these gaps with steady nourishment and weekly visits our Elders can count on.

Ways to support

  • Make a one time gift today to nourish Elders this week.
  • Become a monthly supporter so Elders can rely on steady care all year.
  • Start a peer fundraiser and invite your community to stand with our Elders.

Unrestricted gifts are especially helpful. They allow Heart of Dinner to keep weekly deliveries steady, care for our team, and respond quickly when new needs arise.

Rooted in a love story

Heart of Dinner grew from a thoughtful act between co-founders and life partners Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai. For 11 years they exchanged love notes during long work days, inspired in part by notes Yin’s mom left during early mornings in childhood.

When they began delivering meals to Elders in 2020, they brought this tradition with them. Those handwritten messages, now paired with hand illustrated bags and nutrient-dense food, have become a signature of Heart of Dinner's nourishing care packages and help Elders feel deeply seen.