In Scottsdale this fall, dining out comes with a deeper purpose. Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill and Ling’s Wok Shop are turning their dining rooms into engines of generosity, channeling proceeds from brunches and signature dishes to support Circle the City, a nonprofit providing healthcare to people experiencing homelessness. It’s a partnership built on the belief that great food can spark meaningful change and that the simple act of sharing a meal can help restore dignity and hope to thousands across Maricopa County.
Circle the City serves more than 8,000 individuals each year through an expansive network of healthcare services designed specifically for people without housing. Its street medicine teams travel directly to encampments, its mobile units reach those who remain far from care, and its clinics provide ongoing medical and behavioral health support.
The organization also operates two 50-bed medical respite centers, where people recovering from illness or injury can heal in safety with 24/7 medical supervision, nourishing meals, and case management that helps connect them to long-term stability. Through hospital navigation and community outreach, patients receive follow-up care, social service support, and housing resources - vital steps in preventing a return to homelessness. The organization’s commitment to well-being even extends to creative and emotional healing through wellness programs. As community needs grow, Circle the City continues to expand its reach through capital projects and grant-funded initiatives that increase access to care for the region’s most vulnerable.
“Support from community partners like Ling & Louie’s and Ling’s Wok Shop directly fuels our mission,” CEO Kim Despres said. “Every dollar raised helps provide life-saving care; from medical attention and prescription medications to warm beds and compassionate recovery. Together, we’re helping our most vulnerable neighbors restore health and hope.”
During the holidays, when loneliness and hardship often intensify for people without homes, this partnership becomes even more meaningful. Banquil and his team have a strong history of community support, having raised thousands for Valley nonprofits through previous campaigns, and they see this collaboration as an opportunity to make a bigger impact. Their goal is to help Circle the City expand mobile outreach and ensure that every person who walks through the doors feels seen, cared for, and valued.
“At the end of the day, we’re not just serving meals,” Banquil said. “We’re serving hope. Every guest who dines with us this season becomes part of someone’s healing story.”
This year’s campaign gives diners two ways to transform a meal into meaningful support. On weekends throughout November and December, Ling & Louie’s hosts its Big Hearted Brunch at the Shea location, donating a percentage of all brunch sales to Circle the City. Guests who stop by Ling’s Wok Shop on Hayden Road during the same timeframe can further the cause by ordering from the list of Ling’s Favorites, where a portion of each entrée helps fund lifesaving healthcare and recovery services. For more, visit lingandlouies.com, lingswokshop.com or circlethecity.org.
