FISCO: Sixteen Years of Friendship, Food, and Belonging

Where it All Began

In the summer of 2009, Rita Shah, a social worker in Burlington, noticed something happening in her own family. Her parents-in-law, immigrants from India, were lonely, especially in the long New England winters. So she did something simple: she started gathering a few seniors together for a meal and some company.

That small gathering found the right people at the right time. Rita connected with Mahendra Jhaveri, Ramesh Naidu, Dinesh Shah, and Suryakant Gandhi, and together they started the Friends of Indian Senior Citizens Organization, or FISCO.

Around that same period, Rita Shah had just finished her term as president of IAGB and started calling local restaurants, asking if they'd donate lunch for 50 people, once a month, for a year. Five agreed. She worked with the local councils on aging and started calling people straight out of the White Pages, inviting seniors he'd never met to a free meal. Little by little, the group grew. Eventually a volunteer helped file the paperwork, and FISCO became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with the board of directors and executive team comprised of Dinesh Shah, Ramesh Naidu, Mahendra Jhaveri, and Suryakant Gandhi.

Growing with Purpose

For three years, FISCO thanked its restaurant partners each year with a plaque. Then, Minuteman Senior Services reached out about a partnership, which led to a relationship with Zaika restaurant that has now lasted 13 years, providing our seniors weekly hot meals at several locations across Massachusetts.

That single lunch table in Burlington has since grown into five centers across the state — Burlington, Westford, Shrewsbury, Foxborough, and Newton. Any senior 55 or older can drop in for a weekly lunch for as little as $3, though for many, the real draw is simply having somewhere to go and people to sit with.

More than a Meal

FISCO's members today come from across the South Asian community, and that mix keeps growing. There's always something on the calendar — Holi, Diwali, Independence Day, Republic Day, an annual cruise, a whale watch, a summer picnic. We also organize educational seminars on topics ranging from Alzheimer’s awareness and health aging to AI for seniors. You can find a photo gallery of FISCO events here:

 These events are opportunities for seniors to celebrate the festivals they grew up with, surrounded by people who understand exactly why those days matter. This year's Diwali celebration is coming up soon; details are posted at www.thefisco.org.

In their Own Words

Longtime member Paresha Jhaveri put it simply: "FISCO membership means being part of a caring community where we support one another, build lasting friendships, and celebrate our meaningful contributions by bringing people together and strengthening our community."

Dinesh Shah, who served as President from 2015 to 2019, looks back on it this way: "FISCO has always been more than an organization to me — it is a community built on friendship, compassion, and service... I am proud to have been part of FISCO's journey and growth and to see the positive impact it continues to make in the lives of our seniors."

Looking Ahead

FISCO holds board elections every two years, with the next one in August 2027 under current president Mita Patel. Anyone interested in volunteering or joining the board can reach out to a board member or the president directly via our website. 

From a handful of seniors sharing a meal in 2010 to five centers and a growing membership from every corner of the South Asian community, FISCO's purpose hasn't changed: to care for South Asian elders and give them a place to feel less alone, more at home, and always welcome to sit down, share a meal, and be among friends.

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