Being a daughter of immigrants from the Philippines taught me how cooking is a pure demonstration of love, but also a continuum of our heritage. My mother, Lucy is an avid cook. As a child, I remember being fascinated by all the action in her kitchen. Watching her chop garlic and stir the pot full of adobo with the steam coming out was so fascinating. My father, Orly was also a food enthusiast. He was in charge of supervising galleys (cafeterias) for the US Navy. We had the opportunity to move frequently, which was great exposure to culture and food. My obsession with food began when we lived in Italy.
During the start of the pandemic, we shifted to different ways of trying to survive. I taught virtual cooking classes & started offering food pick-ups at our commissary kitchen since the farmers' markets/events were shut down.
Today, I sell Fresh & Distinct Filipinx food at Farmers Markets and outdoor events in Tacoma, WA. We have a relationship with a local, woman-owned farm. I'm the first Filipina to vend at the Proctor Farmers Market (est 1980's). The community we have built through food is so gratifying. I absolutely love the team we have built. It's a joy to mentor and teaches through humility. Bringing our customers joy through our cuisine is so fulfilling. Most importantly we want people to know Filipinx food/people exist and to represent our culture to the fullest. Our customers feel cared for and seen when they have a plate from Jan Parker Cookery.
My dream is to continue to inspire people & bring joy through Filipinx cuisine by building community. Expanding to more markets and even Hawaii would be amazing! Growing our team in a gentle kitchen culture is a continued desire. Food is love.
Adding to basket
Funded
A loan helped a Filipina, woman-owned food business upgrade our equipment and grow our team & community.
Jan's story
This loan is special because:
More about this loan
Business Description
Jan Parker Cookery is a mobile food business selling Fresh & Distinct Filipinx food at Farmers Markets and outdoor events in Tacoma, WA. Our food is sold from a canopy, we set up and break down our kitchen at each venue. Our food is seasonal and it's important for me to create a sustainable food community. We have relationships with local farmers such as Share the Wealth Organics a woman-owned CSA and Adam's Mushrooms.
In 2017, after moving back from Germany, I decided to open a food business offering intentional and seasonal restaurant-level Filipinx food since there was a lack of this type of food in Pierce county. After opening a home-based business in Germany, I recognized the connection between food and community.
As a chef, I see food as a powerful tool to connect with people. I receive joy by teaching people about culture through our cuisine. It's been so meaningful to be able to give back to the community during the pandemic. JPC has contributed during time by providing free community meals and teaching free virtual cooking classes. A collaboration with a local artist Poly Rev to feed the community at the start of the pandemic was a way to uplift their neighborhood.
In 2019, JPC and Clarissa Gines created Kain Tayo a Filipinx Food & Art festival in Tacoma WA and were awarded a grant from the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation for this momentous event. In 2021, a virtual version of the festival was created to support and highlight local Filipinx artists & small businesses.
Our team consists of BIPOC and LQBTQIA+ and it's important for me to listen to our team and have their needs met. I've taken away the kitchen brigade hierarchy and have replaced competition with compassion.
What is the purpose of this loan?
The KIVA loan will be used to replenish the equipment for our business. Since we set up and break down quite often our equipment feels the effects. New signage and equipment will be purchased with the intention of expanding to more markets. When the expansion occurs, we can impact our community and create more positions for people within our area. By growing, we can continue to highlight Filipinx cuisine and bring joy and connection through food.
Holding community events is paramount, it's important for us to continue events encouraging connection through food. We would like to hold a free cooking class once a year and utilize funds from this loan.
Kiva loan will impact the food landscape in Tacoma, WA, allowing Filipinx food to have a spotlight in Tacoma, WA at the same time providing more diverse dining options.
In 2021, JPC received "Best Chef" by South Sound Magazine. I want to continue to demonstrate how a Filipina woman can thrive in this food business and inspire people to follow their dreams, even when there isn't as much representation. Furthermore how owning a small business can empower one by celebrating culture, creating a welcoming work environment, and building a community they desire.
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
About Jan Parker Cookery LLC
Lenders and lending teams
Country: United States
Trustee: Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Jan?
Jan successfully completed the 12-session business training administered by the Chamber, the Pierce County Business Accelerator. As a graduate, Jan will receive wrap-around support in the months ahead, including coaching, professional services, and more.
Tags
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
Trustee: Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Jan?
Jan successfully completed the 12-session business training administered by the Chamber, the Pierce County Business Accelerator. As a graduate, Jan will receive wrap-around support in the months ahead, including coaching, professional services, and more.
You are opting out of using Free Trial.
You have selected to not use your Free Trial and will be prompted to pay for this loan using your own money.
Agree Use a Free TrialShoot! This loan is ineligible.
Your free credit can't be applied to this loan. If you would like to make a loan to this borrower anyway, you will have to use your own money.
Lend Anyway Find an Eligible LoanYou cannot use your Free Trial to support this loan.
Free Trials cannot be used to make loans during their private fundraising period on Kiva. If you would like to lend to this borrower anyway, you will have to use your own money.
Agree Find an Eligible Loan