Minoru Yasui volunteer puts in a lot of hours – for others
~by Gary Massaro
Mike Shibata arrives early and stays late.
That’s one of the his trademarks, according to a letter nominating him for the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award.
Shibata was honored as the January recipient at the DTC Marriott.
He teaches Sunday school in Denver, Greeley and Longmont at Buddhist temples.
He serves on the Japanese-American Community Graduation Program, which gives out scholarships.
But there’s more than handing out money. Each graduate receives a certificate of congratulations – their names printed in calligraphy by Shibata.
He brings refreshments to monthly meetings as a way of thanking other volunteers.,
He is past president of the Denver Buddhist Temple, and compiled artwork to illustrate the monthly newsletter.
“I volunteer to give back to the community. I come from a Buddhist family. I’m the ninth of 10 children. We wouldn’t have survived if there hadn’t been members in the community helping,” Shibata said.
His late father was a Buddhist minister, raising his family in Ontario, Ore., a farming community on the Idaho border.
“A lot of church members were farmers,” Shibata said. “They would give us part of their crops. That’s why I volunteer.”
Shibata went to college to become a graphic artist.
“I did mine the old-fashioned way, by hand,” Shibata said.
When computers became a standard too, Shibata moved on.
He had moved to Denver in 1981 – job offer.
He now works at Tri-State Buddhist Apartments, which includes Tamai Tower at Sakura Square. He’s an occupancy specialist for the disabled assisted living.
He doesn’t just work there, however.
He pitches in, bringing 20 to 25 loaves of break to the tenants’ council bake sales.
He makes leis for the residents who attend the Valentine’s Day celebration.
He shops for Christmas gifts for the residents’ Christmas party.
He helps clean up after the holiday dinners.
After 9/11, Shibata joined in the 1,000 Cranes of Hope Project, which recruited volunteers to make 2,000 paper cranes – origami – and donate money as a way of offering compassion and kindness to the people of New York and Washington, D.C.
The cranes represented hope and healing -- 1,000 in the shape of a rainbow was delivered to New York, the other 1,000 in the shape of the American flag were given to the Pentagon.
Again, Shibata used his calligraphy skills to print the name of each of 300 on certificates of participation.
It’s not all work for pay and work for free for Shibata.
“I make some free time for the things that I enjoy,” he said. “I’m interested in Native American art and culture, classical music.”
Most volunteers say they do what they do as payback. Shibata has paid back – with interest.
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