The Asian Youth Center – AYC – headquartered in San Gabriel is a non-profit organization that works with low-income, immigrant and at-risk families and youth.

In pre-COVID-19 times, the programs they offered included a multitude of educational, employment and social services in Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Spanish and English for adults and children. Until the “Safer at Home” orders went into effect, they offered in-person census response help.

The organization has made census and tech assistance services accessible by phone and is working hard to feed the SGV with two programs. The Alhambra Unified School District pointed families to AYC for the week that district meals stopped during spring break, and are again partnering to feed the district.

The AYC is partnering with the Alhambra Teachers Association, Alhambra High School Dream Center and California Teachers Association, who have already begun a food and money donation drive for district families.

The ATA drive was fueled by Alhambra City Council member Adele Andrade-Stadler who donated $500 and helped organize and get donations from the community. In addition, the Alhambra Firefighters Assn donated $1,000.

The group is donating a collective $2,795 to the Asian Youth Center, and are asking that donations now directly go to AYC, as food is being provided by them.

Here is the flyer from the ATA, requesting donations be sent to AYC:

The Emergency Food Distribution Program is Monday through Friday by appointment, and census information flyers are available in English and Chinese at food pick-up.

The emergency food program is income-based. Only one person is allowed in the building at a time, they must wear a mask, and they will pick up food for the family at their home address.

The center has served San Gabriel Valley residents since 1997; first-time families are required to bring a form of identification and document showing their address, like a utility bill. The center has a complete list of acceptable documents, at 626-537-0954.

Call Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for questions and to schedule an appointment. Distribution is at 100 Clary Ave. in San Gabriel.

If anyone shows up without at appointment, the center will first help those with appointments and ask those without to wait until they are finished.

The secondary food program is not income-based nor is it restricted to SGV residents. Florence Lin, Community Relations Manager, says it is similar to the emergency program, but anyone in L.A. County can benefit. Again, call 626-537-0954.

A couple of other programs that were available at the Asian Youth Center are still available over the phone in some capacity.

At present, their Census 2020 help is limited to over-the-phone assistance that includes translating and explaining questions and aiding in technology use. Those looking for help should call AYC Census Outreach Coordinator Xuanyu Zhu at 626-716-8048.

Zhu is available for limited in-person assistance on Saturday mornings with scheduled appointments. She can help with “Questionnaire Assistance Kiosk” and “Questionnaire Assistance Computer” issues, for those without access to computers or other needs. Each person is required to wear a mask and only one person is allowed in the room per appointment.

The center aids residents with understanding their monthly bills, contacting companies for disputes and lowering payments for both utilities and phone/internet, and tax services helps with completing taxes.

For those who have prepaid for services, those will be credited to them when AYC’s services resume.

Nicholette Espinosa, Program Director, wrote a note about the center’s service with resources at the bottom of the page. Contact her at [email protected].