Create a Fundraiser to Support Asian American Elders

Your Fundraiser Can Change Lives—One Care Package at a Time

Heart of Dinner’s mission home-delivers culturally thoughtful nourishment and fosters belonging, joy, and connection for nearly 700 Asian American older adults across NYC who experience food insecurity, isolation, and loneliness.

By hosting your own fundraiser, you’re helping us address challenges that go far beyond hunger:

• 1 in 3 Asian Elders in NYC lives below the poverty line—a rate significantly higher than the citywide average.

• 28% of Asian American older adults over 65 live in poverty, facing barriers that make accessing foundational resources nearly impossible.

• Older Asian American women face disproportionately high suicide rates compared to their peers, driven by loneliness, stigma surrounding mental health, and a lack of culturally responsive care.

These statistics reflect lives affected by language barriers, social isolation, and economic inequities. But with your help, we can continue to deliver culturally thoughtful care packages that nourish the body, uplift the spirit, and foster connection and belonging.

Here’s what each Heart of Dinner's signature care package provides:

🌱 Nourish the body with comforting meals for 2–3 days, sourced from local food partners.

💌 Uplift the spirit with handwritten notes in the Elder’s native language, creating a sense of belonging.

🎨 Foster belonging with hand-decorated bags that bring joy and comfort during lonely moments.

Your support helps us address the challenges facing 1 in 3 Asian American older adults in NYC, who live below the poverty line and often feel isolated and lonely.

Why Host a Fundraiser for Heart of Dinner?

🌟 Multiply Your Impact: Every dollar you raise helps deliver nourishing care packages and consistent connection to our beloved Elders across NYC.

📣 Share Our Mission: Your fundraiser invites your community to support an often-overlooked population, fostering greater awareness and compassion.

❤️ Create a Ripple Effect: By raising funds, you’re strengthening intergenerational bonds and showing Elders they are seen, valued, and never alone.

What Your Fundraiser Supports:

Your efforts help Heart of Dinner remain agile and responsive, meeting urgent needs while investing in long-term sustainability. With your support, we can:

• 🏠 Home-deliver weekly care packages that address physical, emotional, and social well-being through comforting meals, handwritten notes of love, and joyful hand-decorated bags.

• 🚐 Build our delivery infrastructure to expand our reach and ensure consistent care across NYC’s five boroughs.

• 🌱 Grow thoughtfully so we can continue nourishing Elders holistically, adapting to both immediate and future challenges.

When you raise funds for Heart of Dinner’s general fund, you give us the flexibility to sustain our life-affirming work and build a future where food insecurity, isolation, and loneliness are no longer accepted realities.

How Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Works

1. Set Up Your Page: Personalize your fundraiser by adding your story and a photo. You’ll have access to templates and key facts from this page to help explain why supporting Asian American Elders is so important. Once your page is ready, submit it for approval—our team will review it to stay aligned with Heart of Dinner’s values and send you a confirmation once it’s live.

2. Share with Your Network: Spread the word via social media, email, and text to invite friends and family to support your fundraiser. Use our templates or write your own heartfelt messages to share why this cause matters to you.

3. Track Your Progress: Your peer-to-peer page features a built-in tracker to show how much you’ve raised. Celebrate milestones and keep your community engaged by sharing the tangible impact their support is making.

💛 Thank you for being a part of our mission! Your efforts help us home-deliver not just meals, but togetherness, love, and dignity to our beloved Elders.

Sample Fundraising Goals & Impact at Heart of Dinner:

• $300: Provides five Elders with weekly care packages for two weeks.

• $600: Supports care packages for 10 Elders for an entire month.

• $1,200: Nourishes 10 Elders for two months with thoughtful meals and connection.

• $3,120: Sustains an Elder couple for an entire year with culturally meaningful meals, love, and joy.

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

• $20,000: Provides approximately 3,500 nourishing meals and heartfelt connections to Elders across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx—bringing hope, companionship, and life-changing impact to those who need it most.

Ways to Host Your Own Fundraiser

🎂 Celebrate a Special Occasion: Dedicate your birthday, anniversary, or milestone to raising funds for Heart of Dinner.

🏃 Make It Active: Host a walk-a-thon, bike ride, or virtual challenge and invite others to sponsor you.

‍‍ Team Up with Friends or Coworkers: Organize a group fundraiser with your classmates, family, or company to make an even bigger impact.

💛 “Just Because” Campaign: No special occasion needed—host a fundraiser simply because you care and want to make a difference.

Join Our Fundraising Community

We believe that no Elder should feel unseen or forgotten. By hosting a fundraiser, you’re turning this belief into action—helping us build a world where love, dignity, and connection are constants, not exceptions.

Ready to start your fundraiser?

💛 CLICK HERE!

FAQs:

1. How do I set a fundraising goal?

We recommend starting with a goal that feels achievable. You can always increase your goal as you get closer!

2. Can I see who donates to my fundraiser?

Yes! Your page will show who has donated (unless they choose to remain anonymous), and you can personally thank your supporters.

3. How long should my fundraiser last?

Most fundraisers last between 1-4 weeks, but you can set your timeline based on your preference.

4. What if I need help?

We’re here to support you! Contact us at donors(at)heartofdinner(dot)org.

Thank you for joining Heart of Dinner’s Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Community. Your leadership and generosity help us nourish and uplift our beloved Elders every week.

Let’s make 2025 a year of profound impact—one care package, handwritten note, and fundraiser at a time.