Read the full article by Amritpal Kaur Sandhu-Longoria at Hmong Daily News
Every week, 67-year-old Connie Bateman gets ready for a weekly outing with a volunteer from ACC Senior Services, a nonprofit that offers support services to older adults in Sacramento. Being visually impaired, Bateman likes that she is able to stay active and visible in her Meadowview neighborhood in South Sacramento.
“It just makes me feel safer,” Bateman said. “It’s more fun to walk with other people.”
Her volunteer this week, Tommy Vasquez, 62, escorts Bateman and many other older adults on their weekly walks or trips to a cafe. He calls himself a caring and people person, and enjoys the opportunity to meet others. He signed up as an ACC volunteer three years ago, right after retiring.
“I enjoy it because you get out and about,” he said. “I’m glad I found this gig.”
In the Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood, Gail Shimabukuro, 79, who uses a walker to ambulate, is sometimes joined by 70-year-old Michelle La, another volunteer with ACC. Shimabukuro said she feels safe walking with La when they take a short stroll around the block.
“If I walk by myself, there is nobody to call,” Shimabukuro said.