Kevin Toyama for J-Sei

“Hey, Diane, do you need any help at J-Sei?”

I had some extra time on my hands and thought I should put it to good use with a little volunteer work. I knew J-Sei was moving soon, and I figured I could help pack boxes and move furniture. So J-Sei Executive Director Diane Wong said she’d get back to me, and a week later she countered with her own question: “Have you ever thought about joining the J-Sei Board of Directors?”

Fast-forward six years: I’ve hit the limit on the number of terms I can serve on the Board, and as the clock ticks down, I find myself reflecting on those years.

As a Sacramento transplant, I didn’t know much about J-Sei. But after learning more about the organization and its efforts to support the local senior community, I joined the Board.

I quickly learned how much of an impact J-Sei has on the East Bay’s elderly community. Its case workers help seniors navigate everything from interpreter services to home-safety assessments to transportation. And its meal-program staff and volunteers annually provide more than 32,000 meals to seniors. Thirty-two thousand!

I’ve helped deliver some of those meals. One of the seniors on my route lived in a pretty run-down neighborhood. When I was getting back into my car, her daughter ran out and thanked me. She explained how much she appreciated these healthy meals for her mom, who can’t really afford this kind of food from a restaurant.

Another senior at an assisted-living facility had old-timey jazz cranked up to eleven, and I had to pound on his door for several minutes. When he finally answered, he sheepishly apologized and explained that he lost most of his hearing, but I just smiled and asked if he was playing Turk Murphy (a shot in the dark: it was the only name I could remember from an old jazz-related work project). He looked stunned, then smiled and cackled in delight: “Why, yes, it is—how in the world do you know about Turk Murphy?” It was then my turn to smile as he joyfully reminisced about going to SF jazz clubs in the early ’60s.

If you read the J-Sei backgrounder, you’ll see that J-Sei’s roots are in Nikkei values and culture. But what does that mean? Simply put, J-Sei is built on a foundation of respect and appreciation for the elderly community. These people helped shape the Bay Area into an amazing place to live. And when they need our help, J-Sei provides the infrastructure to convert time, effort, and love into that crucial assistance.

I’m so proud of J-Sei’s staff and volunteers for their work serving our senior community. When the pandemic hit, J-Sei quickly shifted fitness and art classes online, to engage the seniors who were stuck indoors and became increasingly isolated. J-Sei organized fun sake and wine presentations, virtual movie nights, and other cultural events to not just entertain, but to connect each other in group experiences. And best of all, a wave of new faces emerged to help with the increased workload, injecting fresh ideas and enthusiasm that energized our efforts.

Thank you for considering a donation to J-Sei. Their impact on the community has grown so much during my six years of service, and with our support they are poised to do even more!