The Goods Mart: Guest Curator for Good

It's the beginning of APPI Heritage Month, and I've teamed up with one of my favorite places to snack, The Goods Mart, for a special limited-edition snack box. Snacking is life’s little treat— whether it’s a pick-me-up, a post-gym nosh, or a midnight nibble— snacking is always a good thing. The box is filled with my go-to goodies like Zest Thai Mushroom Jerkey, Ancient Provisions Cheddar Cheezish Crackers, Wholesome Delish Fish and more! Better yet, the proceeds benefit the Heart of Dinner’s #LovingChinatown relief efforts, a program that launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver food to NYC's elderly Asian American community.

GET YOUR BOX TODAY, it’s limited edition!

I’ve chosen Heart of Dinner because it exists not just to combat food insecurity among NYC’s elderly Asian population, but to also combat isolation and build community. Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai started delivering care packages at the onset of the COVID pandemic and that’s just what they deliver: care. Hand-decorated bags filled with fresh produce, pantry items and prepared hot lunches for those in need. The work they do is grass-roots and real— and what they are providing to the elderly Asian community in NYC is immeasurable.

As an Asian American and a Chinese American, the impact of the pandemic and the anti-Asian hate on the Asian community— especially the elders— has been heartbreaking to say the least. For me to support in any way I can and shine a light on what the Heart of Dinner is doing is my honor.

Founded in 2015 by Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai, Heart of Dinner was originally a supper club that brought people together to share a meal and sense of community. As we all know, COVID-19 brought a lot of change, and a huge increase in racism towards the AAPI community. Yin and Moonlynn knew they needed to continue to bring positive change to the community, and that they did. Heart of Dinner's #LovingChinatown relief effort now serves over 1,500+ elders in Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. They deliver hot lunches, fresh product and bulk ingredients from local small businesses right to people in the Asian American community.

Find out more information on the Heart of Dinner and donate if you can by clicking here. They hit their goal of 50,000 meals delivered in January 2021, and now they are going for 250,000. Let's help get them there, together!