Paula Hernandez
Paula is a trailblazer. She is the eldest of ten children and the first one to come to the United States pursuing the American Dream. In 1999, Paula arrived in Washington State from Oaxaca Mexico. Like many other Latino immigrants, she put her life in the hands of coyotes. She has experienced first hand the extreme worry and uncertainty when you are traveling to the United States. She vividly remembers crossing the sierras, rivers, and being scared to death. When she arrived in Washington, she was extremely tired from the toll the trip imposed on her body and malnutrition.
She started working in the fields and when the work was done, she came to Oregon looking for more work. Unfortunately, no one helped her to start her life in Oregon, she was missing that sense of community. She started cleaning houses in order to put a roof over her head and food on the table.
Years later, she found a life partner and started a family. After years of hard labor, she decided to learn how to navigate the system. With the help of her husband, she was able to find a better job. She looked for better opportunities and more resources for her family.
She started volunteering and learning more about nutrition in programs offered by her children’s school. Because her son had a liver condition, she worked with doctors in order to make nutrition changes. Thanks to her perseverance, she was able to help her son overcome his health problems. She is extremely grateful for good nutrition and the help provided to her son.
Paula found out about Abuela, Mamá y Yo through the Oregon Food Bank. She participated in the classes and enjoyed the experience. She is very happy to be part of the food promotores project. She knows that the Latino community needs trust because many people want to take advantage of their situation. As she said, “Para saber cómo ayudarles con amabilidad” – To know how to help them with kindness.
She has seen families that have struggled with their health and the great burden on caregivers, especially when taking care of someone with COVID. When working with Latino/x/e families, she loves to share resources in order to build self-efficacy. She knows the importance of having a community in which we help one another. As she shared “Es importante tener una comunidad.”