The February Nisei Lunch is but a memory, and as we look ahead to the March lunch, I have some thoughts I wanted to share with you.  As with any of the programs and events offered by the NVC and Foundation, we rely heavily on volunteers to help carry them out.  In this article, I wanted to give special recognition to the volunteers who have made the Nisei Lunch such a special occasion. 

Since the Nisei Lunch began in 2015 there have been many volunteers that have come and gone, but there has always been a core group of volunteers that have given their time and effort to the program on a regular basis.  I want to acknowledge these very dedicated volunteers and express my gratitude for their efforts. These volunteers include:  Shiz Kaku, Sue Beeson, Jim Shinbo, Nancy Nakatsu, Carole Remme, Janice Kunitsugu, Ed Shinbo, Liz Olschefski, Kathy Yee, Paul Murakami, Kurt and Candace Nogaki, Joan Hall, Ruth Shimano, Lisa Kunihiro, Mel Inouye, Nadine Miyahara, Carla Kohler (Mizuta), Barbara Andersen

There is one other group of volunteers I would like to recognize as well.  This group performs a very important part of our lunch program.  They deliver lunches to our guests that cannot attend the lunch in person.  Our delivery program was instituted during the chaotic times of COVID.  We wanted to continue to serve our Nisei members, however with social distancing mandates in place, we had to think of a different way to continue the lunch program.  The idea of food delivery was that option, and it is still an integral part of our program today. 

Our gratitude and thanks go out to Carolyn Takei, Steve Suzaka, and Jim Yoshida.  This trio delivers lunches to our guests that are located at Lakeshore Senior Living facility and Merrill Gardens Senior Living facility, as well as various private residences in our local community.

In closing, I would like to mention that we celebrated birthdays for the following folks, Shiz Kaku, George Kiuchi, and Fusako Akimoto.  This is a new “wrinkle” that we intend to make a part of our monthly lunch.

Thanks for your time and stay safe.  Perhaps we will see you at a future lunch.  For more information, please feel free to contact me at:  kyamavet@gmail.com or by phone: 206 390-1253 mobile.