A Heart for Chinatown and a Commitment to Community Service

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Gabrielle Verzo. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

For Gabrielle Verzo, volunteerism isn’t just about getting involved—it’s about strengthening the bonds within her community. As an active member of the Chinatown Teen Council, Gabrielle has dedicated her time and energy to initiatives that uplift vulnerable populations, particularly senior residents in the neighborhood. One of her most impactful contributions is her work with the community grocery distribution program, where she helps pack and deliver fresh produce to low-income seniors living in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) buildings. Her efforts ensure that hundreds of these residents receive essential food supplies, providing them with not just nourishment, but also a sense of connection and care.

Beyond her work in grocery distribution, Gabrielle has played a crucial role in advocating for social change. She has volunteered at hate crime workshops aimed at addressing the rise in anti-Asian violence, an issue that has deeply affected the Chinatown community. Her involvement in these workshops reflects her belief in using education and awareness as powerful tools for change.

Gabrielle’s contributions extend beyond Chinatown, reaching larger community events held at the Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles. Whether assisting at the Libros/Book Festival or guiding participants at Girl Scout Day, she has proven to be a reliable and enthusiastic volunteer. What sets Gabrielle apart is her willingness to embrace every opportunity that comes her way. Read on to find out more about her work in ensuring that her fellow community members receive the support they need.

Tell us about your volunteer role.

I’m a Chinatown Teen Council member. I’m able to volunteer with their posted events when I can. I have a lot of roles, and they have a broad range. I help out with the grocery distribution and with big events in the Central Library. For the grocery distributions, a lot of it involves carrying the big boxes of produce into the library itself, and packing bags at the stations. We pack everything in the bags, load them into the carts and then we go around Chinatown to deliver them to the seniors.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

Before I was involved in the Teen Council, I was already involved in Chinatown as a tutor. I already saw how many seniors there were. When I went to a hate crime workshop, I heard a story about one of the elders being beaten. That story affected me. I’m Asian myself. Through gentrification, these vulnerable seniors are also getting kicked out of their homes. The grocery distributions help a lot with food security for these seniors.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

When I see the reactions from the seniors getting food delivered to them. Gentrification isn’t just kicking out the seniors, but is kicking out businesses too. There was a market that many of these seniors relied on that was forced to relocate. Many of the seniors in Chinatown can’t drive that far. Seeing their happiness after food is delivered to them – eggs, noodles, vegetables, fruit and other basic necessities – is the most rewarding.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I’ve learned a lot about people, not just through grocery distributions but through the events at the library too. I get to meet seniors, little kids, stressed adults. I enjoy getting to interact with all different types of people.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

Honestly, now is the best time to volunteer – especially as youth. Not only does volunteering have a lot of benefits for me personally, like how to be responsive and how to have compassion for people, but it sets up a foundation for a strong community. Younger people committing time into their communities makes the community interconnected, more supported and ultimately stronger.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

Just do it! Volunteering means you’re sacrificing your own time, and any organization is going to be grateful for and appreciate any help they can get. Even if you’re nervous or scared of meeting new people, organizations will be so grateful for your efforts.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

I want people to learn that if they can, help people who need help. Especially as high schoolers, there’s often prioritization of self, but it’s important to put in effort and sacrifice time for those who can’t do anything about their situations, for more vulnerable people and populations. I want people to also remember to be grateful for what they have. Even though I struggle with my own stuff, I understand how much more I have than some others. I am fortunate, and that drives me forward to help others who need some help, especially in my own communities.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Gabrielle? Find local volunteer opportunities.