Event Date: December 14, 2010

Senior citizens are a segment of the population that can also be one of our greatest forgotten resources. They are a wealth of great stories and have a myriad of great memories they love to tell.

With work, extracurricular activities, and everything else we have going on these days, it’s safe to say we all lead busy lives. Often we have to prioritize our most valuable resource – our time – and often, that means that spending quality time with our senior relatives goes by the wayside.

I sang karaoke for senior citizens as part of last year’s project, and it brought back some vivid memories of when I would visit my great-grandmother in a retirement home.

It was such a great feeling to know that I’d made a difference in someone’s day, so I wanted to include a project in this year’s 20 Causes, 20 Days that enabled me to spend some time with senior citizens.

Today, I would be volunteering with the Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley.

The ACC is an apartment-like to promote the general welfare and to enhance the quality of life for our community by identifying, developing, and providing culturally sensitive health and social services for older adults. ACC is steeped in ethnically diverse traditions of mutual assistance and selfless giving, a critical cornerstone to its success at making good on its promises to provide programs that benefit older adults in the community.

For today’s event, I would be helping serve an early Christmas dinner to the residents of the community.

I arrived at the ACC – Greenhaven Terrace to see that there were already dozens of residents in the main area, sitting and conversing while waiting for dinner. I met with Community Manager Xai Leggett, who directed me over to the serving line, where my two volunteers Rashell and Mary were already assisting.

Mary is Rashell’s grandmother (left), and it turns out she knew a couple of the volunteers at the ACC!

I grabbed a tray and four plates, and set out down the serving line. Salad, macaroni salad, pasta, lasagna, chicken, ham, Japanese noodles, candied yams, scalloped potatoes, green beans, rolls, and more things I’m forgetting. The point is there was a lot of food!

Xai said she had expected 80-100 residents for this meal. All told, about 65 were present, and I’m pretty sure each of them enjoyed the festive setting.

Everything was decked out in Christmas attire, and many of the residents were sporting their Christmas sweaters and brooches. A couple of them had Santa hats on. As I delivered each plate, I made sure to make eye contact and flash a big smile to each person.

This was a small but meaningful gesture, as many of them returned a huge smile back to me. The energy exuded throughout the room.

Once all the residents were fed, I fixed myself a plate and sat down to eat. The three ladies I sat with shared some stories with me, and they were all happy to have me there, despite the fact that I was devouring my food like it was the only warm meal I was going to eat this week.

(Yes, odds are it will be the only warm meal I’ll eat this week.)

I finished up, and channeled my roots as a busser once again. I was a busser many, many jobs ago, and I never thought that experience would come in handy again in my later life. But it did, and the same people who exchanged smiles with me as I served the food were glad to see me back again.

As I collected the plates, a South Pacific-themed band played Christmas songs for the residents. They had their Hawaiian shirts and ukuleles, and sang all the classics. A few of the residents sang along, and the band really helped ring in the Christmas spirit.

We then served dessert, and the next form of entertainment was a nice lady who led some of the volunteers and residents in line dancing. Rashell went out on the dance floor, and never one to be shown up, I somehow found my way out there to partake.

For the record, I have never line danced before. If there were video of this, I’m confident that it would be fairly evident. Being a former athlete, I have some decent foot-eye coordination, so I was able to pick up each dance just as each song was ending.

I had a great time dancing through about four songs, then Xai drew numbers for the door prizes, which consisted of the poinsettia centerpieces on the tables and some holiday wreaths. The residents who won were quite happy.

I was happy too. I had a simple task today, but I helped make a lot of people’s day. Rashell and Mary had fun too.

I’ve volunteered with 20 Causes, 20 Days quite a few times; however, I would have to say this was one was my favorites. Not only did I serve food, cleanup and ATTEMPT to line dance but also got to hang out with one of the residents, Mary.  She insisted that my grandma and I come to her apartment so we could see “her man”, snowman that is This 88 year old was spunky as can be, I’m definitely going to have to go visit her again! -Rashell Choo

The ACC is always looking for volunteers. They have a myriad of different events and opportunities. I recommend you take some time to spend with these great folks who are grateful for the opportunity to meet new people and share some stories.

Thanks to Xai and the Asian Community Center for having Rashell, Mary, and me out there today. I am grateful for having been a part of a fun day, and I hope that the residents were able to forgive my dancing abilities!

Asian Community Center
Volunteer Information
(916) 395-0210

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