La Cocina’s Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser Raises Record $132,415 for Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels
For nearly two decades, a Cinco de Mayo gathering at a Richmond restaurant has grown into something much larger than an annual celebration.
This year, that community tradition produced a record-breaking $132,415 for Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, money that will help provide meals, wellness checks, transportation and human connection for older adults across Fort Bend and Waller counties.
Community leaders, supporters and volunteers gathered at La Cocina Mexican Restaurant & Catering in Richmond as owner Andres Novoa formally presented the organization with proceeds from the restaurant’s 19th Annual Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser, held earlier this spring.
The final total marks a new high for an event that has steadily become one of Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels’ largest annual sources of community support.
“This fundraiser continues to demonstrate what is possible when a community comes together for its seniors,” said Doug Simpson, CEO of Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels. “Every dollar raised helps provide nutritious meals, wellness checks, and hope to older adults throughout Fort Bend and Waller Counties. We are incredibly grateful to Andres Novoa, the La Cocina team, our sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who made this year's event such a tremendous success.”
From a Richmond Fundraiser to a Regional Lifeline
The size of the check tells part of the story. The work it helps fund tells the rest.
Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels traces its roots to 1974, when local community leaders organized an effort to provide regular hot meals to older residents. Today, the nonprofit provides home-delivered meals and other services to seniors throughout Fort Bend and Waller counties while operating six senior centers across the two-county area.
Its mission extends beyond addressing hunger. Staff members and volunteers also provide wellness checks, transportation and opportunities for social interaction that can help older residents remain safely and independently in their own homes.
The organization’s 2025 Impact Report shows the scale of that work: 369,611 meals were delivered, more than 2,100 seniors were served, and 19,414 rides were provided during the year. More than 1,000 seniors were served each day through the organization’s programs.
Those numbers translate into thousands of individual moments — a meal arriving at a front door, a ride to a senior center or a familiar volunteer checking to make sure someone living alone is doing well.
Fort Bend Seniors reports that every home-delivered meal includes a safety and wellness check, while its senior centers provide meals, activities and opportunities for older adults to spend time with others.
For eligible residents, the programs are provided at no cost and are based on need rather than income.
A Tradition La Cocina Has Built for 19 Years
La Cocina’s relationship with Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels is not a one-year partnership.
For 19 years, Novoa and the La Cocina team have hosted the annual Cinco de Mayo fundraiser, bringing together area businesses, sponsors, volunteers and residents around the mission of supporting local seniors.
The 2026 event, presented by H-E-B and held May 2, was promoted earlier this year as an evening of food, live fundraising activities and community participation. At the time, organizers were already describing the fundraiser as one of the nonprofit’s most important annual events.
The final $132,415 total exceeded the expectations attached to that gathering and moved the long-running fundraiser within reach of another significant milestone.
“I've always believed in giving back to the community that has supported my family and my business,” Novoa said. “Seeing our community come together year after year is a testament to the generosity and compassion of Fort Bend County and something I will never take for granted. We are already looking forward to celebrating our 20th anniversary next year.”
What the Record Fundraiser Means for Fort Bend and Waller County Seniors
Community fundraising has particular importance for an organization whose services depend on a combination of government support, grants, contributions and local philanthropy.
Fort Bend Seniors reported $5.02 million in revenue in 2025, with government funding accounting for 31.8%, grants for 27.9% and contributions for 23.7%. Development and events represented another 5.8%. The nonprofit reported that about 76 cents of every dollar spent went directly to senior programs.
Volunteers are another major piece of the operation. During 2025, 382 volunteers contributed 12,861 hours, producing an estimated savings of more than $440,000 for the organization.
That combination of funding and volunteer involvement helps sustain a service model designed around both nutrition and connection.
Fort Bend Seniors says homebound participants receive meals at their doors through staff and volunteer drivers, while seniors who are able to attend one of the organization’s centers can participate in meals, activities, health screenings and other programming.
For families trying to help an aging parent or relative remain independent, that network can also provide another set of eyes and another point of contact during the week.
Next Year Could Push the Fundraiser Past $1 Million
Now attention is already turning toward the 20th Annual Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser in 2027.
Organizers say that if next year’s event raises more than $126,000, cumulative proceeds from the La Cocina fundraiser will surpass $1 million over its two-decade history benefiting Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels.
“This milestone would be a testament to the generosity of our community,” Simpson said. “Reaching $1 million would represent countless seniors fed, thousands of wellness checks, and two decades of neighbors helping neighbors.”
The potential milestone also offers some perspective on how a recurring local event can compound its impact. What began as a community fundraiser has become a dependable source of support for an organization serving thousands of seniors across a rapidly growing region.
Planning for the 20th anniversary fundraiser is already underway, with sponsorship opportunities expected to become available later in 2026.
How Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels Serves the Community
Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels serves adults age 60 and older in Fort Bend and Waller counties, including homebound residents who cannot safely leave home or prepare meals for themselves. The organization also provides transportation, senior center programming and other supportive services intended to help older adults remain independent.
Residents seeking meal assistance for themselves, a family member or another senior can contact Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels at 281-633-7049. The same number can be used to learn more about the organization, while additional information about volunteering, donations and services is available through fortbendseniors.org.
For the people who gathered at La Cocina to celebrate this year’s record total, however, the story is not simply about setting a fundraising record. It is about what happens afterward — meals delivered, doors knocked on, rides provided and older neighbors given another connection to the community around them.
After 19 years, that may be the clearest measure of the fundraiser’s success.
Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for updates on the 20th Annual La Cocina Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser and other nonprofit initiatives making an impact across Fort Bend County.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
