How a Northern Kentucky cultural food pantry nourishes community

Inside the lower floor of a Florence office building, boxes and crates of food line the walls. Dozens of cars start pulling into the small parking lot out front. It’s the last Friday of May — and a Northern Kentucky cultural food pantry is about to open its doors.

A cultural food pantry offers food options that are intentionally aligned with cultural meals and nutrition. For Hispanic families in the region, this local cultural food pantry is also an opportunity to speak their language, share stories and see old friends.

“The fruits, vegetables and meats are things that for us — our food — is appropriate for our nourishment and culture,” said Blanca Perez, in an interview translated from Spanish. “But we start becoming friends and grow a lot of love for each other.”

This cultural food pantry is run by FIESTA; which stands for Families, Inclusion, Education, Society, Tradition and Access. The nonprofit focuses on family-oriented resource aid, which includes the larger pantry day every last Friday of the month.