AAPI Heritage Month Volunteer Spotlight: A Story of Connection, Culture, and Community

When Jenny moved to San Francisco’s Richmond District 13 years ago, it was a new beginning in many ways. Originally from Taiwan, she had immigrated to the U.S. at age 10, raised by her mother as part of a single-parent household. Like many immigrants, she navigated change with quiet strength—and a deep longing for connection.

“I wanted to get to know my new neighborhood,” she said, recalling what brought her to The Richmond Neighborhood Center. “It was a new place for me, and volunteering felt like a way to help out while also helping myself.”

Volunteering at The Richmond Neighborhood Center’s food pantry has done more than that. It’s helped her reconnect with her culture, form new friendships, and even heal. “Being around people, especially those who speak my language and share my culture—it helped me. I didn’t realize how much I missed that until I found it again.”

Some of her favorite moments come from chatting with fellow volunteers and neighbors about food—recipes, traditions, and memories tied to a shared heritage. “Just listening to the older ladies talk about how they cook things, it feels like home.”

She’s met people from all walks of life and who speak different languages—Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, and more. “Everyone has their own story. But here, we come together.”

When asked why she thinks volunteering is important, her answer is simple but profound: “If you don’t help where you live, then where else are you going to help? We all have to do our part—this is our community.”

Her advice to future volunteers? “Do what you can. Don’t force yourself, just start. It helps others, but it also helps you.”

She ends with a smile, “I love The Neighborhood Center. They are part of my family now.”

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