Releases

After being in San Francisco for two months, I still find myself missing home. I come from the East Coast and have never ventured out further than Ohio. When I made the decision to volunteer in California I knew that it would take courage and strength to find my place here. To my surprise and appreciation, I found the courage and strength to stay here in the people that I work with. I work at the 30th Street Senior Center and spend my days talking and sharing with seniors that come from all over the world.

Our Senior Center provides services and programs fostering the wellbeing of seniors in need. The majority of seniors that participate at the center are immigrants, including 70 percent from Latin America, 7 percent Chinese, and 3 percent Filipino.

Because of the large numbers of monolingual Spanish speakers, many activities focus on introducing the culture and language of the United States to those unfamiliar or new. The Center offers activities such as Basic English Class, Citizenship Class, and Computer Class (in Spanish and English) and Bilingual Case Management Program connecting seniors with direly needed social services (i.e. translation; housing, etc.).

As I spend more time with the seniors, I have been given the beautiful opportunity to hear their stories. I've heard many courageous stories of seniors who had to pick up and leave their homes to start over and come live here for various reasons. Although the Center welcomes them, the seniors also bring their own culture and traditions filling the Center with diversity, color, and life. Although I miss home very much, the Center has welcomed me and has become my second home. I find the courage to continue my new experience here through the strength and care of the seniors and staff at the Center.