WHAT WE DO
Heart of Dinner exists to combat food insecurity and isolation among Asian American elderly who face inequity. We do this by delivering care packages of hot lunches and fresh produce every Wednesday, lovingly paired with a handwritten and illustrated letter in their native language to bring warmth and comfort.
WHAT WE DO
Turning care into action
1
We rally energy and funds from our global community of supporters who we lovingly call "Big Hearts".
2
Then, we support local
restaurants and food distributors by purchasing each lunchbox of freshly prepared hot foods and cases of Asian heritage crops.
3
Our volunteer community of Big Hearts pen handwritten notes and illustrate bags for our heartwarming and uplifting care packages.
4
Finally, we hand-deliver Heart of Dinner signature care packages of culturally thoughtful foods and loving messages to underserved communities of Asian Elderly, many who are homebound and face loneliness and barriers of accessing essential resources for survival.
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Delivering love to Asian elders throughout NYC, one meal and loving message at a time.
Help us nourish the Elders with culturally thoughtful food packages that we curate and bundle inside uniquely hand-illustrated bags with handwritten notes of love attached, and then hand-delivered to homebound and isolated Asian American seniors living in significantly under-resourced communities.
IMPACT (AS OF 2023)
With the support of our donors, volunteers, partner restaurants, local food businesses and farms, we’ve managed to meaningfully impact the lives of Asian immigrant elders facing inequity.
Over 600 Elders served weekly.
Over 100,000 meals & love notes delivered.
Fosters an intergenerational community of volunteers in the thousands that transcends cultural differences and spreads empathy and compassion.
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.
IN THE MEDIA
Select press
“Their initiative arrives at a moment when many Asian people have been angry...and are seeking a way to feel reconnected to and empowered by their culture and community.”
QUOTE
“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.”
QUOTE
Thrillist 2020 Local Heroes
SELECTED
GET INVOLVED
Want to help? We’d love to hear from you.
Deliver meals, write notes, illustrate bags, or fundraise on our behalf.
Volunteer
Donate produce or goods, or join our waitlist of paid restaurant partners.
Become a partner
Raise mutual proceeds for HoD and your brand, and advance both our missions along the way.
Brand collaborations