Resilience Through Community for Fidelina

Five years. Fidelina has been battling cancer every day for five years. But through it all, she showed up, eager to learn something new in the Salud con Sabor Latino class. For her, these afternoons weren’t just about cooking; they were about healing, hope, and community.

The Salud con Sabor Latino program (translated “Health with Latino Flavor”) helps adults build lasting healthy habits through hands-on cooking, nutrition education, and practical lessons rooted in Latino culture. Each class blends community connection with real-world skills, providing participants with nutritious food boxes and showing them how healthy food can support both physical and emotional well-being. It was through this class that Fidelina found strength and support when she needed it most.

At 78, Fidelina’s life has been defined by perseverance. Originally from Michoacán, Mexico, she came to the South Ranch Community at a young age. As a mother of five, she worked tirelessly, sometimes juggling multiple jobs and selling clothes and food to make ends meet.

Diagnosed with cancer five years ago, life became a careful balance of doctor’s appointments, chemotherapy, and sheer determination to keep moving forward.

As soon as she learned about SSL, Fidelina was one of the first to sign up and quickly became one of its most devoted participants. She even apologized in advance in case treatments made her miss a session. And on the days she couldn’t attend, she called for notes and recipes, determined not to miss a single lesson.

Fidelina often shared that being older and sick didn’t mean she couldn’t keep learning and improving her health. She wished classes like this had been available sooner, knowing how much they could have helped her earlier in life.

“I am very grateful for this program and for the opportunity to learn new things,” she said. “I learned a lot and felt special in every class and each time I received my food box. This is something very good for the community.”

She graduated from Salud con Sabor Latino in March and continued receiving food boxes through October. Each time, she called to express her gratitude and share how much the fresh ingredients helped her cook nutritious meals after chemo.

Fidelina’s story illustrates how nourishment can come in many forms, through food, learning, and community. She found strength and purpose in connection and care. For others still seeking that same sense of hope and belonging, your gift can carry that hope forward, reaching more people like Fidelina.