Eight months after its founding, FIESTA NKY, the first Latino-focused nonprofit organization in Northern Kentucky, is already providing food for hundreds of families, outgrowing its facilities, and getting set for its first significant fundraising event at the Florence Y Alls Stadium.
On August 19, Theresa Cruz, the organization’s founder and executive director, presented an illustrated presentation to the Florence City Council about the work they are doing.
According to Cruz, the acronym FIESTA stands for Families, Inclusion, Education, Society, Tradition, and Access.
Founded in 2023, FIESTA NKY
opened its doors in January 2024
. The organization has three initiatives: food, resource coordination and education and outreach.
Discover NKY’s activities as well as our most recent reporting on the arts and culture.
Cruz informed the council members that we are Northern Kentucky’s only culturally appropriate food pantry. This implies that we provide meals that our families are familiar with and can prepare.
Additionally, FIESTA NKY supports workforce development, housing, and English language instruction. One of its initiatives focuses on mental wellness.
Cruz stated that more than 1,400 people have benefited from FIESTA’s outreach activities.
According to Cruz, we conducted a poll of the many families we encounter. There are [people] from Mexico, Guatemala, and Venezuela in Florence alone. I’m from Puerto Rico.
FIESTA NKY has had to limit its food distribution event twice in the brief period it has been operating due to space constraints. According to her, they serve 210 families each month, and the number is always growing.Theresa Cruz, Executive Director of FIESTA NKY. David S. Rotenstein took the photo. LINK nky contributor
Cruz listed a number of ways that people might help FIESTA, such as volunteering and making financial contributions. However, she wasn’t seeking funds or volunteers in the council rooms. Cruz was present to introduce Fiesta at the Plate, the organization’s inaugural fundraising event.
Food from five Latino nations—Cuban, Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico—will be served at the Florence Y Alls Stadium on September 19. A live salsa band and a DJ will be present. There will be a batting competition for guests, and members of Florence Yall’s team will be there.
Cruz intends to expand the audience by hosting the fundraiser at the stadium. Other nonprofit organizations organize tournaments or have yearly galas. “Neither do I,” she answered.
We wanted to do something fun for the community, Cruz said. We really want to show our support for the Latino community that s here in Northern Kentucky. We re in your backyard. We re not going anywhere. So I d really love for Florence to be the hub just the way we re the hub for the Hispanic community.
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