No Más Lágrimas (No More Tears) is a grassroots organization created by Ana Ortiz more than 10 years ago to support individuals and families of all backgrounds, cultures, and identities affected by economic and social barriers. Ana’s work is based in Ithaca, but she reaches communities as far away as Rochester and Binghamton, feeding and inspiring people with her wonderful cooking and famous empanadas. Now, after thousands of miles, hundreds of meals cooked (out of her van), and many cubic tons of food collected and distributed directly to folks in the community. We provide after school program at West village community room or at the Henry Saint John  Building  with NO COST.
 Ana urgently needs a 12 person van, as well as immediate funding for general operation. For example:  Summer camp program, 
 Meals to Go, Open hours food pantry, individual personal advocate for Latinos, Cooking class, Community services, Supporting youth advocate & more.

Ana was born in Puerto Rico and came to America when she was 16. She has lived in Ithaca for almost 26 years and founded No Mas Lagrimas/No More Tears in 2009. Ana has coordinated many community events since then including youth-oriented Latino Festivals and has conducted fundraising for her local community and for many organizations. In 2020 Ana was honored with the Women’s Fund Laura Holmberg Award. She says about the community she serves, “I fight for them because I believe in them—no matter the struggles I face through the process of getting them what they deserve.” Her goal is to help her fellow community members, prioritizing the needs of young people. During the Coronavirus pandemic, Ana and her team of volunteers have expanded their collaboration with different organizations in the community to respond to needs for food, cleaning supplies, PPE, and other basics. She states, “My work in our community is important and I always want to show them that we can work as a team and be loyal to each other.”

Ana and the No Más Lágrimas volunteers are in immediate need of funding for operational expenses, and require a working van to reach out to people in crisis across Central NY. No Más Lágrimas volunteers collect food, hygiene products, baby care, and school supplies from local corporations and area farms daily in order to stock the weekly mobile food pop-ups where items are distributed for free, directly to community members in need. Van we will be using to transport residents at West Village, West Hill or anyone need transportation. 

Ana is always growing and strengthening her network and will use her van to collaborate with other local groups across New York on ways to access and distribute donated resources in their own communities. She’s expanding her vibrant youth group; Voices of youth of West Village residents. She works everyday as a personal level and bring her heart every where she goes. 

With your support you will bring a lot of smiles, happiness, enjoy, bring dreams come true, a lots of wishes and happiness in your heart.
We honor to have each one of you in our support list and more important in our prayers to you & families. Thank you/ Muchas Gracias