"Todo!" Angelica and Alberto's Story

"Todo!"

Despite my limited knowledge of Spanish, I know what Angelica means when I ask her what she likes to cook: "Everything!"

From mole, to birria, to arroz con pollo, Angelica cooks everything. And when asked what she likes to pick up at the food shelf, she replies with a simple phrase: "Todo!"

"I love everything!" she says through a Spanish translator. "Everything, everything, everything. My grandchildren eat everything: more pozole, grandma! More eggs, grandma! More everything!"

Angelica and her husband Alberto have been coming to Mi Casita Food Shelf well before the food shelf had a physical space. Mi C.A.S.A., the organization that runs the food shelf, have done food distributions in the community in the past, and Angelica remembers attending those regularly.

"The first time I came, I was so happy. They gave me a lot of food. Bread, cheese, milk and meat. The people were so pleasant. It was just a beautiful experience."

Angelica is from a little neighborhood near Mexico City, called Tepito. Her husband, Alberto, is also from a small town in Mexico--Guanajuato. He teases his wife: "she is from Tepito, this means she is tough," as he holds his hands up like a boxer.

Angelica and Alberto came to Minnesota in 1980 and have lived all over the state. They have lived in Shakopee for the past decade or so, as Alberto came into retirement age. "I worked in factories with lots of different companies. Lots of work with my hands," he says in English.

Angelica and Alberto live with their son, his wife, and their three grandchildren. "I love cooking for them," says Angelica. "That's how I help out. I'm 79 years old, so I don't work anymore. Cooking allows me to feel as if I am part of the family."

Like many retirees, Angelica and Alberto are feeling the financial strain caused by rising grocery prices. "I am retired, and I get benefits, but it's not enough," says Alberto. "This helps us so much."

"Groceries are very expensive. Fifty dollars does not go as far as it used to--not even at the places that are more affordable. The money I save, I can put toward something else," adds Angelica.

Pozole is Angelica's specialty, and she is able to find hominy and meat at Mi Casita.

"It's fast, and people like it. Some people say it's hard to make and expensive, but not for me! I like making food. For me, it's easy."

Angelica is planning on making pozole for the upcoming holidays. "I am really looking forward to being with the family. When we're all together we eat, but more than anything it's being close together."

"They are special days, but I get scared, because sometimes the family doesn't leave!" she says while laughing.

Much like Angelica, Alberto is also a jokester. He has some choice words for his wife's cooking. "She's not a good cook. Everyone says she's amazing, but I don't know. She makes a great salad," he says with a laugh.

While Alberto seems the type who is always quick with a quip, he wanted to take the time to say thanks to those who help support Mi Casita and food shelves like it across Minnesota. "I know people leave their homes and their families to provide a social service for the community. Everyone has a lot of patience: driving, packing, supporting the people who come. Even when the weather is bad in wintertime, people are here because people still need to eat. Food is everything."

"I just hope [Mi Casita] is always here," adds Angelica.