Meals on Wheels People’s Diners Club partners with local restaurants to offer older adults more choice, cultural connection, and a welcoming place to gather — transforming mealtime into a moment of dignity and community.

At Pho Alley 11 in Hillsboro, owner Uy Khuat ladles steaming broth into bowls of northern-style Vietnamese pho — the kind his parents love.

“We opened this restaurant pretty much to feed our parents,” says Uy, who takes care of his parents with his wife, Laura. “Our parents don’t eat big portions, but they need nutritious and fresh ingredients. We’re on this journey of taking care of our parents, and now we want to take care of the community — offering various nutritious options while satisfying their palettes and creating a friendly and comfortable dining experience.”

THe Meals on Wheels People Diners Club

Through Meals on Wheels People’s Diners Club, Uy and his wife now do just that. Their restaurant is one of 11 Diners Club partners — 82% of which are culturally or ethnically specific — across Clark, Multnomah, and Washington counties where Meals on Wheels People participants can dine out with friends, enjoy diverse cuisines, and feel visible and valued in their communities.

Diners Club, which launched in 2023, is part of Meals on Wheels People’s effort to reimagine what mealtime can look like for older adults, moving beyond the traditional model where meals are served only in a congregate setting. Through this program, participants dine at the restaurant, choosing their own meals and experiencing the atmosphere, service, and dignity that come with choosing where and when to eat.

That simple shift represents a powerful innovation. It expands access for people who might not feel comfortable in other settings, creates new options for older adults in more rural areas, supports small businesses, and strengthens cultural connections — all while tackling isolation among older adults.

The program’s impact has been extraordinary. With over 694 participants and more than 9,149 meals served, Diners Club has more than tripled since 2024 and is one of the largest and most diverse initiatives of its kind in the nation.

Boosting Local Businesses

Diners Club participants share a meal and conversation at Miss Delta.

At Diners Club partner restaurant Miss Delta in Portland, owner Marcus Oliver says the impact goes both ways.

“My first job ever was in a retirement home,” he says. “I loved working with older people. They’re so interesting and have so much life experience to share. I started thinking about my grandma near the end of her life, how she was stuck in her place and couldn’t get out to be social, and how much it bothered her not to meet with friends.

“The Diners Club program really struck a nerve with me — the ability to provide a place to have a meal, relax in a good setting, and socialize is very important. A lot of the time, our older generation is forgotten, and it bothers me. I wanted to help.”

The Diners Club helps Miss Delta thrive as a business, too. “It’s helped us be busier for lunch,” Marcus says. “In a time like this, when restaurants are slow, it’s really nice to get some people in the doors and have it feel livelier for lunch. My staff love it.”

Connection, Culture, and Choice

Pho Alley 11 brings choice and culture to Diners Club participants.

For older adults like Thi, Esther, and Clara, that opportunity for connection is everything.

Thi, who dines at Pho Alley 11 with her friends Thu and Kim, says the program offers both flexibility and cultural connection. “It’s nice to eat food that feels like home,” Thi says.

Esther, who lives alone, describes it as her social lifeline: “I need it to keep myself social.”

Clara adds that the Diners Club has opened up possibilities she didn’t have before. She often goes with her friend Linda, but she’s even taken her son along. “With the Diners Club, you can go whenever you get hungry,” Clara says. “Today’s lunch at the Forest Grove Center was absolutely fantastic. But you know how you have personal preferences. It doesn’t matter how good it is. Sometimes, you just don’t want it. When you go to a restaurant with the club, I can say I want turkey today or eggs today or a burger today.”

For older adults, that choice — where to go, what to order, and who to share it with — is powerful. And for Meals on Wheels People, it’s a glimpse of what the future of aging with dignity can look like: independent, connected, and full of flavor.

The Future of Aging with Dignity

Programs like Diners Club are made possible thanks to donor support. Your generosity helps Meals on Wheels People expand access, reduce barriers, and bring choice and connection to the table for older adults across our community.