Just eight months after opening its doors, FIESTA NKY — an NKY Latino-centered nonprofit — is already feeding hundreds of families, outgrowing its space and preparing for its first major fundraiser at the Florence Y’alls stadium.
The organization’s founder and Executive Director, Theresa Cruz, gave an illustrated presentation about the work they’re doing to the Florence City Council on Aug. 19.
“FIESTA stands for Families, Inclusion, Education, Society, Tradition, and Access,” Cruz said.
Founded in 2023, FIESTA NKY opened its doors in January 2024. The organization has three initiatives: food, resource coordination and education and outreach.
They also, Cruz said, provide culturally appropriate foods.
“What that means is that we provide food that our families recognize and that they know how to cook,” Cruz said.
FIESTA NKY also assists with housing, English language education, and workforce development. Its programs also include a mental health initiative.
Cruz said that FIESTA has served more than 1,400 people through its outreach events.
“We surveyed the different families that we see,” Cruz said. “In Florence alone, you have [people] from Venezuela, from Guatemala, from Mexico — I’m Puerto Rican.”
In the short time that FIESTA NKY has been open, it has outgrown its space twice and had to cap its food distribution event. She said they are serving 210 families a month, and the numbers keep rising.
Cruz outlined several ways people can support FIESTA, including donating money and volunteering. But she wasn’t in the council chambers looking for money or volunteers. Cruz was there to announce the organization’s first fundraiser, Fiesta at the Plate.
The Sept. 19 event will take place at the Florence Y’alls stadium, and it will feature food from five Latino countries: Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala and Puerto Rico. There will be a DJ and a live salsa band. Florence Ya’ll’s team members will be on hand, and there will be a batting competition for attendees.
By holding the fundraiser at the stadium, Cruz hopes to reach a wider audience. Other nonprofits hold annual galas or sponsor tournaments. “I do neither,” she said.
“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.”
