Friends Integrates Service with Academics to Support Asian American Seniors

For the second year, Middle and Upper School students have supported the non-profit Heart Of Dinner by writing notecards for Asian American elders in Chinese. Mandarin teachers Lynn Lin and Yu Tan worked with the Center for Peace, Equity and Justice on this unique opportunity to connect what they are currently learning in the classroom with advocating for those in our local community.

Heart of Dinner works to fight food insecurity and isolation experienced by Asian American seniors throughout New York City, delivering weekly care packages that are filled to the brim with culturally thoughtful hot lunches, fresh groceries, pantry essentials, and bulk ingredients while supporting local small businesses.

Lynn explains, “Poverty, anti-Asian hate and the pandemic have further isolated and impacted elderly Asian Americans in a disproportionate way. Our goal at Friends is ‘to help bring out the world that ought to be,’ and this is a great way students are making a difference by combining their knowledge of Chinese characters and creativity.” 

Building on the success of the partnership, the Upper School’s Asian Culture Club hosted a lunchtime session. Students were so enthusiastic about the activity that they took cards home to design with their families. Lynn continued, “We are a diverse community with students of different ethnic backgrounds. It’s inspiring to see us come together to aid our Asian American elders.”