Leticia’s cupcakes

Some people bring a special kind of light into our community, and Leticia is one of them. She’s a regular at our Zumba class, always showing up with a smile, bringing energy and warmth wherever she goes. More than that, she’s a devoted wife, mom, grandmother, and neighbor.

Life hasn’t been easy for her. Her husband was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers, and she’s been caring for him while holding everything else together. Leticia was also part of the pilot program we did last year with the South Orange County housing providers (Families Forward, Family Assistance Ministries and South County Outreach.) Because of this pilot program, when she faced the risk of housing insecurity, she received rental assistance, giving her the stability to stay in her home and focus on her family. That support meant she could keep caring for her husband without the fear of losing the place they call home.

One Monday night, after our Learning Mondays workshop at Casa Unidos, Leticia took home some donated boxed cupcakes and cookies. A few days ago, she sent me a message with a picture and a message that said, “Mira qué bonito se hizo el pan y las cookies de las harinas que me diste cuando fui a Unidos.” (Look how nice they turned out!)

Such a simple moment, but one that stayed with me. Leticia reminds me why this work matters. It’s not just about programs or services, it’s about people. It’s about love, about showing up for each other, about making sure no one has to go through hard times alone. She is one of the many reasons I keep going.

-Miriam Zuñiga

Director of Adult Programming