PAEP or Pacific Asian Empowerment Program was born out of a grassroots demand by Filipinos, Tongans, Hmong, Mien, Laotians, Samoan, Polynesian volunteers, and clients demanding changes from oppression and lack of understanding by larger groups and agencies that had not been culturally sensitive to their heritage and needs.
PAEP and its Senior Nutrition Congregate Meal Program addresses many important issues such as diminishing and alleviating hunger, isolation, loneliness, depression, malnutrition, obesity, inactivity, and sedentary lifestyles. When the seniors come to the meal sites they socialize, exercise, listen to music, sing, dance, eat a healthy and tasty meal using ingredients similar to the foods they were used to eat back home. The seniors receive good, helpful information, peer counselling, information and referral, food bank donated items. They sometimes play bingo, watch the news and discuss issues and current events with others. We are helping families and seniors in the Seattle, King County area to live healthier, happier and more independent lives, thus contributing to an improved community with a healthier and more productive population.
