Filipino Senior Meal Program

Preciosa Tamaki, Foundation Co-Chair and board member for the Filipino American Community of the Yakima Valley (FACYV), organized the Senior Meals Program (SMP) with the FACYV to deliver authentic Filipino meals to the senior, disabled, and vulnerable community in the Lower Yakima Valley. The SMP started in June 2020 and by September 2023, the program distributed over 10,000+ meals to seniors in the Yakima Valley. The FACYV is seeking external funding to sustain the program after June 2025, so if you would like to learn more and get involved, please contact Diana Ibatuan at deeibatuan2017@gmail.com.

Preciosa Tamaki assembles the senior meals for delivery.

“The meal program creates a feeling of concern and love to the seniors.” - SMP customer

Every Thursday, the FACYV sells authentic Filipino lunches at the Wapato Filipino Community Hall called “Thursday Take Out” (TTO). FACYV volunteers cook and serve Filipino classics, such as chicken adobo, pancit, rice, vegetable stir fry, and lumpia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Preciosa learned how some seniors were unable to drive to TTO to pickup a meal, so she collaborated with the FACYV and the Foundation to create the Senior Meal Program (SMP), which provided delivery and pickup of Filipino meals for free.

“During COVID, I thought about people, especially the seniors, who were stuck at home. Who is checking on them? Do they live by themselves? Do they have family? Do they have support? This program is very rewarding to me because I care about doing the programs to help the seniors.”
- Preciosa Tamaki

Every Thursday, Preciosa and the FACYV coordinate the SMP at the Wapato Filipino Community Hall for 40+ clients. Established in June 2020, the program initially served elderly, vulnerable and disabled Filipino lolos and lolas (seniors) living in remote areas in the Lower Yakima Valley. The program’s impact expanded beyond the lolos and lolas to include the Hispanic, Native American, and veteran community. The Senior Meals Program not only provided one free meal per week, but it also provided an additional support system for customers during the pandemic and an opportunity to strengthen community bonds.

Preciosa and Diana Ibatuan organized a delivery system, so drivers could hand-deliver lunches every Thursday to the senior customers who were unable to pickup their free meal at TTO. Diana Ibatuan, Linda Tabayoyon and Jim Tabayoyon volunteered to be the lead delivery drivers. Through word of mouth, the FACYV circulated a meal application and referral form for delivery and pickup meals at the Filipino Hall. Customers were eligible for the SMP if they were 65 or older, handicapped, disabled, or a veteran. This simple process turned into a popular program that went on for more than five years.

“You know the old saying ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ This program has brought to our consciousness the need. I consider it an absolute privilege to have been a part of this program. It gives me a sense of purpose in other's lives.”
- Jim Tabayoyon

After a few weeks operating the SMP, it was clear that this meal wasn’t the only benefit. Over time, these weekly connections turned into trusted relationships and support systems. By delivering the Filipino meal with care and concern, the program’s drivers built authentic connections, which was significant during the pandemic as customers faced challenges including food insecurity, isolation, lack of internet access, technology difficulties, etc. They were able to utilize that time to pass on hand sanitizer and masks, deliver important messages related to the pandemic, and connect customers with support services.

Jim Tabayoyon delivers a meal to a SMP customer in 2021.

“Drivers are always very nice, friendly, always positive, patient, understanding.” - SMP customer

Diana Ibatuan assembles a senior meal.

“Well, I look forward to every Thursday when we get this meal.” - SMP customer

Photo credit to the Yakima-Herald Republic

The SMP was also made possible with the support of the FACYV volunteer cooks, Greg Sotelo, John Pascua, and Philip Miranda. Every Thursday, they arrived early to the Filipino Hall to prepare and cook the authentic meals. Since these meals were intended for seniors, they were cooked with less salt for a lighter and healthier meal. The delivery meals were carefully timed, so that they were cooked, served, and delivered within an hour or less. To mix up the menu, the SMP team would also deliver various meals such as spaghetti, sandwiches, or include special desserts and treats.

“I started out not really knowing some of the deliveries that were on my route. But in reality, the seniors became my aunties, uncles, grandmother and mentor, and best friend. It just wasn't handling and delivering the senior meal, but a unique binding friendship that grew immensely. I will really miss my senior friends, mentors, aunties, uncles, and mostly their big ‘smiles.’”
- Diana Ibatuan

More details about the FACYV, TTO, and the SMP are in the Yakima-Herald Republic story. The SMP was funded through a $60,000 grant with the Foundation and a $5,000 grant with the Yakima Valley Resilience and Response Fund, which was a funding partnership with United Way of Central Washington, the Latino Community Fund, and the Yakima Valley Community Foundation.

The FACYV is seeking external funding to continue the program after June 2024, so if you would like to learn more and get involved, please contact Diana Ibatuan at deeibatuan2017@gmail.com.

Senior Meals Program Team

  • Preciosa Tamaki

    SMP LEAD ORGANIZER,
    FOUNDATION CO-CHAIR,
    FACYV BOARD MEMBER

  • Diana Ibatuan

    SMP LEAD ORGANIZER,
    SMP LEAD DELIVERY DRIVER,
    FACYV SECRETARY

  • Linda & Jim Tabayoyon

    SMP LEAD DELIVERY DRIVERS
    LINDA / FACYV BOARD MEMBER
    JIM / FACYV PRESIDENT

  • Greg Sotelo, John Pascua, Philip Miranda

    SMP LEAD COOKS

    John and Philip not shown above
    Photo credit to the Yakima-Herald Republic

John Pascua makes pancit

John Pascua makes pancit

Philip Miranda teaches Briana Tamaki how to make vegetable stir fry

Philip Miranda teaches Briana Tamaki how to make vegetable stir fry

Preciosa Tamaki, Jim Tabayoyon, and Linda Tabayoyon in front of prepared takeout meals

Preciosa Tamaki, Jim Tabayoyon, and Linda Tabayoyon in front of prepared takeout meals

Monette Shelton, Jim Tabayoyon, Jane Asuncion, Diana Ibatuan, Greg Sotelo, and Preciosa Tamaki finishes up spaghetti for the Christmas delivery

Monette Shelton, Jim Tabayoyon, Jane Asuncion, Diana Ibatuan, Greg Sotelo, and Preciosa Tamaki finishes up spaghetti for the Christmas delivery

Monette Shelton and Jane Asuncion at the TTO cash register

Monette Shelton and Jane Asuncion at the TTO cash register

Diana Ibatuan and Jim Tabayoyon load meals to their cars

Diana Ibatuan and Jim Tabayoyon load meals to their cars

Diana Ibatuan delivers a meal on a snowy day

Diana Ibatuan delivers a meal on a snowy day

Briana and Preciosa Tamaki, Grace Pino, Monette Shelton, and Cami Wilson make some treats for the volunteers

Briana and Preciosa Tamaki, Grace Pino, Monette Shelton, and Cami Wilson make some treats for the volunteers

Customer Testimonials

  • “The meal impacts my life by giving a healthy, nutritious, fresh, cooked meal of my favorites of adobo, rice, pancit, vegetable stir fry, lumpia. The meal helps me because I always look forward to Thursday at 11:30am. It is the healthiest meal I have during the week.”

  • “All parts of the meal is delicious. Tasty, scrumptious. Lumpia is very good. […] Love it. *Filipino Meals on Wheels.* Wonderful volunteers to cook, to deliver, foods to those who cannot drive to the Filipino Hall or cook for whatever reasons. Your selfless efforts of all volunteers are appreciated.”

  • “We can’t express our thanks and gratitude for everything that our drivers have done to us. We appreciate their kindness and generosity in extending their care and love to the “senior” citizens that are members of the Senior Meals Program.”

  • “The meal was perfect. It’s a balance diet food, which needs to be served for seniors and especially intended for diabetics like us. The food is more than enough because we can’t eat too much. We eat the food through lunch, dinner and breakfast. The lumpia is for our snacks. Our budget for food is lesser. “

  • “It sure helps that I know I'm going to get a meal every Thursday. I look forward to it by sitting by the window for me and my wife.”

  • “Drivers are always very nice, friendly, always positive, patient, understanding.”

  • “When you are old and living alone, you don't cook. Mainly TV dinners or canned. It's nice to have something cooked for you. Thank you.”

We appreciate the cooks, drivers, and volunteers who put thoughtful care into every meal.

You made a positive impact through your weekly connections to share good Filipino food and goodwill to the customers and the community.

Maraming salamat po (thank you) for your dedication and support of the Senior Meal Program!