Pam Honda for J-Sei

The “Give In May” campaign has provided J-Sei with an amazing and, in the past, very successful opportunity to fundraise.  The sponsors, Asian Pacific Fund, AAPI Data and community partners offer the challenge of winning a prize based on our successful fundraising.  But this year we also have generous J-Sei supporters who have put forward a $55,000 matching donation!  We are indebted to the generosity and support of these individuals and of the sponsors of Give In May.  

While I am asking for your support of J-Sei through the Give In May fundraiser, I wanted to share my involvement with and insight into the organization.  Being involved as a program participant, board member and volunteer has been very rewarding and a great way to spend my retirement hours!  J-Sei has a long history of  commitment to serving our seniors, their families and all ages of the Nikkei community…..something I appreciate more and more!   

This year I decided to enroll in J-Sei’s “Let’s Groove” class led by Judith Kajiwara.  I figured it would be good for my aging brain…..trying to memorize a dance routine!  OMG!  It’s been so much fun….and funny at the same time.  Trying to remember the steps has been challenging….but laughing as I try to get my body to move…..like I said…OMG!  The great thing is I’m not alone.  There are some in the class that really “get it” (I watch them constantly) and then there are those of us who are just having fun “trying”.  The great thing is that J-Sei offers classes where people with similar interests can get together, have fun, learn something new, practice something old or in my case, just dust off the cobwebs and get moving!!! The environment feels safe, the instructor is very knowledgeable and it’s fun!!!  I realize that so many of J-Sei’s classes and programs do just that.  

The J-Sei Board of Directors has been working to create a strategic plan which will be used as our roadmap through the next five years.  Critical to the development of the plan has been the input gathered from the J-Sei community via surveys, focus groups and meetings with member organizations and J-Sei staff.  The responses have been awe-inspiring….both in number and in depth and thoughtfulness.  It is so heart-warming to hear how much people care and appreciate the services and programs offered by J-Sei!

The mission of J-Sei has not changed.  However, the needs and interests of the J-Sei community have changed over our 50+ years.  It is the Board’s goal to ensure that the strategic plan takes into account those changes and that they are reflected in our services and programming.  I am so proud to be a member of the Board which is doing just that!  The many hours of thoughtful conversation have reinforced just how deeply the board members care about the organization, how committed they are to ensuring we hold true to our mission while implementing changes that keep us relevant.    

As a volunteer meal delivery driver, I’ve seen first hand the dedication and commitment of the nutritional services team.  Preparing, packing and delivering 37,000 meals a year is no small task!  As a delivery driver, I am fortunate to see the look on the seniors’ faces when the meals are delivered.  They are always so happy to see us and so very thankful for the hot meal. I know they look forward to our visits because they remember my name.  On days when I substitute for someone, they are quick to ask where the regular driver is!  Though we are there to deliver meals, I realize the visit is so much more! 

I want to thank you for taking time to read my story! To learn more about J-Sei, you can go to our website, J-Sei.org.  If you would like to make a donation to J-Sei, now is the time.  Every dollar you donate will be matched up to $55,000!

Thank you for your consideration! Take care and stay well……..Pam