What an incredible Thanksgiving with TAYO!
The success of our community meal was truly a testament to collaboration and generosity.
Logistics & Community Reach: We start with a huge shout-out to Cecile Ramos of Burlington Nursery School for making a Thanksgiving miracle happen! Cecile coordinated the pickup of over 80 Turkeys from Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez’s office. The volunteers loaded my car until it was bursting! (This is the time I wish I had a pickup truck so I could have brought back even more!) These turkeys were distributed to the Nursery School, local senior homes, a grieving resident, and we were thrilled to also give out turkeys directly to community members at the event.
We must also give a special thank you to Valerie Frausto, CATC II of the Omni Center, who not only volunteered but also brought additional men from the Omni Center to serve as part of our volunteer team, significantly boosting our capacity.
The Power of Our Partners (21 Volunteers!): This entire event was made possible by a dedicated volunteer team of 21 people and our generous partners.
A huge thank you to:
A Special Note of Gratitude: Finally, a huge thank you to TAYO's Program Director, Helina Herrera. The event wouldn't have been a success without her tireless efforts, which included handling all the complex logistics, coordinating the full volunteer team, reaching out to grocers, and ordering last-minute supplies from Instacart. She handled all the crucial final details that ensure smooth execution.
Check out what our volunteers has to say about the event.
The success of our community meal was truly a testament to collaboration and generosity.
Logistics & Community Reach: We start with a huge shout-out to Cecile Ramos of Burlington Nursery School for making a Thanksgiving miracle happen! Cecile coordinated the pickup of over 80 Turkeys from Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez’s office. The volunteers loaded my car until it was bursting! (This is the time I wish I had a pickup truck so I could have brought back even more!) These turkeys were distributed to the Nursery School, local senior homes, a grieving resident, and we were thrilled to also give out turkeys directly to community members at the event.
We must also give a special thank you to Valerie Frausto, CATC II of the Omni Center, who not only volunteered but also brought additional men from the Omni Center to serve as part of our volunteer team, significantly boosting our capacity.
The Power of Our Partners (21 Volunteers!): This entire event was made possible by a dedicated volunteer team of 21 people and our generous partners.
A huge thank you to:
- VONS and Sprouts for their essential food donations and gift cards, which were instrumental in purchasing necessary last-minute items.
- Dan Belen of Bamboo Bistro for lending us 5 food warmers and preparing our delicious turkey stuffing! (Special note: Bamboo Bistro recently opened a new location on West Temple, Los Angeles 90026, right adjacent to FACLA! Please stop by and visit.)
- The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce: Thank you to Terry Villanueva, President of FACC Greater Pasadena, for bringing her family to volunteer, Kathy Current (FACC Greater LA Treasurer) for serving food, and Gemma Bergstrom for cooking and delivering two turkeys and volunteering to serve!
- Valerie Frausto, CATC II (Omni Center) for her exceptional volunteer commitment and community transport efforts.
- Long-Distance Support: We are grateful to Malou Mariano and Renno Pongas, who traveled all the way from Long Beach to volunteer, helping extensively with set-up and tear-down.
- Ludy and Dr. Gilkison of Pinoy Lakas Radio for their significant donation.
A Special Note of Gratitude: Finally, a huge thank you to TAYO's Program Director, Helina Herrera. The event wouldn't have been a success without her tireless efforts, which included handling all the complex logistics, coordinating the full volunteer team, reaching out to grocers, and ordering last-minute supplies from Instacart. She handled all the crucial final details that ensure smooth execution.
Check out what our volunteers has to say about the event.
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Join Us for A Shared Thanksgiving with Tayo in Echo Park!
The Tayo Legacy Foundation invites the entire community to join us for A Shared Thanksgiving Gathering on Sunday, November 23rd, 2025 in the heart of Echo Park. We are setting the table for an afternoon of warmth, delicious food, and true community connection. This meal is our way of ensuring that everyone—our underserved neighbors, local seniors, families, and anyone who wishes to share a meal—has a place at the table this holiday season. Event Details
How You Can HelpWe are seeking volunteers to help with serving, setup, and cleanup, and donations to help cover the costs of food and supplies. Your generosity makes a direct and immediate impact on the lives of our neighbors. URGENT NEED: Monetary donations are strongly encouraged at this time to help us procure enough turkeys to feed all our guests. Every dollar directly supports putting a traditional Thanksgiving meal on the table. Thank you so much to our following donors, collaborators, sponsors, affiliates, and volunteers
*** Don't forget, your donation is tax deductible. |
Thanksgiving with Tayo
OPEN TO PUBLIC November 23rd, 2025 Filipino American Community of Los Angeles Volunteers - check in at 11 noon and wrap up after 5 PM Register here * Please email Tayo if you would like to donate to our upcoming community events. SAVE THE DATE!!! These events will be held at FACLA Feel Free to Download and Share this image.
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Curtis Chan
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--- Suspension Matters ---
Ryan Matters
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Valerie Frausto, CATC II
Program Manager
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Dan Belen
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** A portion of the funds donated will be strategically used to cover essential logistical expenses for the drive. This includes the cost of collection boxes, packing materials (like tape), fees, cost of shipping, and awareness materials (such as printed flyers and banners) to ensure the efficient gathering and transport of aid.