Looking for ways to help the older Japanese and Chinese population in the Greater Sacramento area, leaders of their community banded together and formed the Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley (ACCSV) in 1972. Initially, ACCSV provided community-based services such as tutoring, youth employment, and transportation. Since then, the nonprofit has expanded exponentially with major programs, including a 99-bed nursing and rehab facility, a community center in the Greenhaven/Pocket area, ACC Rides Transportation Services, Bridge to Healthy Families Caregiver Support, and their newest major endeavor: Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP).

The Asian Community Center recently rebranded to ACC Senior Services to reflect that—while the facility was built to accommodate the cultural needs of Asian American seniors—it’s open to all. “One of the reasons we rebranded was that people were always asking [if you had] to be Asian to participate, but we’ve always been available to everyone,” says Program Director Linda Revilla. “The difference was that we had volunteers who could speak Asian languages and really did a lot of outreach in the Asian American community.” ACC is also not age-specific. “One of our yoga classes has three generations of the same family,” says Revilla. This is true for all of ACC’s programs, classes, staff, and volunteers.

The community center is ACC’s most extensive program, providing over 1,300 individuals with the ability to participate in 60 activities per week that run the gamut from aqua aerobics and choir, to computing, cooking, language, music, and Zumba. “If you have a talent, you can share it at ACC,” Revilla explains. “We even have an ACC Rides driver who teaches a cooking class! Overall, supporters and participants now number around 3,000.”

When asked about their current need and criteria for volunteers, Revilla responds enthusiastically: “We always need volunteers! It just depends on what you’d like to do. We have people who [help with] special events and fundraisers and others who help out every day as welcome center volunteers.” Volunteer Manager Kim Fujiwara says, “We’re always looking for drivers and driver's assistants, activity assistants, office support, welcome center team members, and instructors. For those interested in leadership roles, we’re looking for committee members as well." 

“What gets you up in the morning to come to work every day?” I asked Revilla. “The people,” she says. “From the staff and volunteers to the participants, I can’t think of another place I’d rather be.”

accsv.org