WHAT WE DO
We address food insecurity, social isolation, and loneliness among Asian American older adults living in significantly under-resourced and underinvested communities. Since 2020, we've grown from delivering care packages in Manhattan's Chinatown to serving Elders weekly across New York City's boroughs—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx. In 2025, we expanded our mission to provide emergency relief in Los Angeles, supporting Elders displaced by wildfires and facing critical challenges.
At Heart of Dinner, we’re beloved for our thoughtful approach that transforms lives—a combination of nourishing food, personal artwork, and handwritten love notes that has become central to how we care for our community. Each culturally thoughtful element is designed to feed the body, heart, and soul of our Elders.
While being one of the fastest-growing populations, Asian American older adults often remain overlooked in discussions about food security and mental health. 1 in 3 Asian American older adults face longstanding inequities living below the poverty line. Compounded by cultural, linguistic, and technological barriers, these challenges reflect systemic gaps and societal neglect. Despite this, their resilience and spirit continue to inspire us every day.
Heart of Dinner care packages are designed to go beyond meeting basic needs survival needs. With the rise of depression and suicide among elderly immigrants, Heart of Dinner is committed to bringing love, joy, and togetherness to their lives for the long-term, reminding them that they are loved, seen, and never alone.
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WHAT WE DO
Turning care into action
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We raise energy and funds from our global community of supporters who we lovingly call "Big Hearts".
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Then, we support local restaurants and food distributors by purchasing each prepared lunchbox and cases of Asian heritage crops.
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We rally kind individuals to volunteer their time and creativity by handwriting notes and decorating bags to nurture emotional connection with our beneficiaries.
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Finally, we hand-deliver Heart of Dinner's signature care packages of culturally thoughtful foods and loving messages to our Elderly beneficiaries who are faced with loneliness and barriers of accessing essential resources for survival.
Delivering love, nourishment, and togetherness—one care package at a time.
42% of Asian American older adults live in significantly under-resourced communities. Behind this statistic are beloved community members facing profound social isolation, loneliness, and food insecurity.
Every Wednesday, we deliver care packages that are a lifeline—hand-decorated with art, filled with culturally thoughtful meals from local businesses, and accompanied by handwritten notes in the Elder's native language.
Your gift today creates immediate impact. $30 provides an Elder with a care package.
Want to do more? $300 supports 10 Elders with a care package.
$1,200 provides 10 Elders with a full month of Wednesday care packages, filling each week with nourishment and joy.
IMPACT (AS OF MAY 2025)
700 Elders nourished weekly.
Nearly 250,000 meals delivered to homes.
Love notes transforming loneliness into belonging.
Personalized bags bringing joy to homes with art and color.
Fosters a global community of love across generations & cultures.
Since our founding, Heart of Dinner’s leadership has been honored to envision and steward the growth and sustainability of a compassionate ecosystem that nourishes and uplifts Asian Elders facing inequities. This work has been made possible by the generosity of our donors—including leadership partners, peer-to-peer fundraisers, and grassroots supporters—and the unwavering dedication of our staff, volunteers, and trusted partners in local restaurants, food businesses, and farms.
IN THE MEDIA
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"Aging Asian Americans face high rates of social isolation and poverty. This group often lacks adequate support systems. But one New York City nonprofit is looking to change that—one meal at a time." - Fortune features Heart of Dinner and its impact
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“They created Heart of Dinner to cook fresh food that older Asians in New York City would be familiar with...and deliver it all with a personal touch.” - The New York Times mentions Heart of Dinner
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"Uplifting AAPI Voices: A TIME Summit
Join TIME for our second-annual Uplifting AAPI Voices Summit, a celebration held in recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Guests will share essential perspectives on identity, creativity, and impact—as well as the intersectional path toward equity." - TIME features founders Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai as speakers to discuss the origins and building of Heart of Dinner
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GET INVOLVED
Want to help? We’d love to hear from you.
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We urgently need volunteers to help us create 700 decorated bags each week. Our Elders cherish these bags, often keeping them to find comfort and hope when they feel alone. Your creativity will bring lasting joy and dignity to those who need it most.
Urgent Call for Help: We Need 700 Decorated Bags Every Week!
Jacqueline Russo Eng
Owner-Baker, Partybus Bakeshop
Working with Heart of Dinner has definitely been a huge help with keeping the business going and sustaining our employees. My whole staff is here working a full day and it feels really good. I think if not for Heart of Dinner bringing so many great people and businesses together, I would feel a lot darker right now.
