J-Sei has a strong, dedicated and enthusiastic group of over 150 volunteers providing close to 1,700 hours of service each year. J-Sei offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, and we work to match individual interests with the needs of our agency, making every volunteer experience a valuable one.

There is something for everyone! 

Nutrition Program Volunteers

  • Kitchen Volunteers assist our chefs with preparing ingredients, packaging meals, and keeping the kitchen running (dishes, laundry, etc).
  • Delivery Drivers take prepared meals and friendly smiles to homebound seniors. Drivers use their own vehicles and must pass a background check.
  • Congregate Dining Servers set the tables for onsite lunch at J-Sei, serve the diners, and clean the dining area and dishes after the meal.

Please fill out our Nutrition Volunteer Sign-Up Form to get started.

Friendly Visitors & Callers Volunteers

  • Friendly Callers provide regular phone calls to older adults who may be experiencing isolation or loneliness. Volunteers build friendly, consistent relationships through conversation and check-ins, typically on a weekly or biweekly schedule arranged based on the volunteer’s and participant’s availability.
  • Friendly Visitors provide companionship through regular visits with an older adult in their home. Volunteers may spend time talking, sharing cultural experiences, or participating in simple activities together. Visits are generally scheduled weekly or biweekly according to the older adult’s needs, on a mutually agreed-upon day and time.
  • Friendly Visitors and Callers are thoughtfully matched with an older adult participant based on factors such as location, cultural or language preferences, shared interests, and scheduling availability.
  • J-Sei provides orientation, training, and ongoing staff support to all Friendly Caller and Friendly Visitor volunteers. These are social-companionship roles and do not include caregiving, transportation, errands, housekeeping, or medical assistance.

Contact Hanna Yamaguchi at (510) 654-4000 x103, hanna@j-sei.org.

Fundraising Volunteers

  • Fundraiser Planning and Preparation – Become a part of J-Sei’s dedicated committees that plan and organize each event in the months before the event.
  • Event Volunteers help on the day of our major events and fundraisers.
  • Fundraising Outreach Volunteers help to call perspective donors to follow-up on donation requests for upcoming fundraisers.

Contact Ky Lam at (510) 654-4000 x108, ky@j-sei.org.

Office Volunteers

  • Office Work – Assist the office manager or executive director with a variety of administrative tasks including bookkeeping, data entry, and database management, mailings, translating materials, organizing photos and filing as well as other miscellaneous tasks.
  • Mailing Help – Help collate, fold, stuff, seal and label mailings for solicitations, fundraisers and correspondence.
  • Thank you Note Volunteers help to write thank you notes in a timely fashion during particularly high-volume donation time such as following major fundraisers.

Contact Suzanne Otani at (510) 654-4000 x100, suzanne@j-sei.org.

Senior Center Volunteers

  • Class Instructors leads seniors through a planned activity, offering instruction, encouragement, and guidance. For example, craft or exercise classes are popular.
  • Computer Aide provides 1-on-1 support to assist seniors with computer navigation on their own device, either in a class setting or computer lab at J-Sei.
  • Community Education Presenters can provide a brief lecture on a topic of interest to seniors and can facilitate discussions, questions and answers. This might also include outreach presentations to seniors or community groups. Topics cover issues ranging from health to community services to travel.

Contact Jill Shiraki at (510) 654-4000 x109, jill@j-sei.org.