We often hear the phrase “trust the process.” For one of NEPA Mar Lopez’s students, it was the process that saved her.

Whether the event is virtual or in person, Mar’s technique is simple: create a sense of community in every class. To do that, she makes a class group. Then, for the rest of the session, Mar texts encouraging messages, reminders, and tips. Her students also use the platform to announce any special deals they spot, offer rides to the grocery store, and share recipes.

Little did Mar know it was those texts and the welcoming environment that helped to rescue “Francis” from her depression and offered her a sense of belonging and purpose.

“A young woman was referred to me by the YWCA. At our first session, there was a group of seven ladies. This lady came wearing a mask and sat alone in the last row of chairs. After the class, when we went to the kitchen to make the recipe, she was very quiet and stood apart at the edge.”

By the fourth lesson, after discussing obstacles to be more physically active, the class decided to visit the gym together. Francis sent reminders about the gym and sharing the recipes that she had made at home.”

“She said her husband and sons were very glad to see her attending the classes and that they – as a family – were trying the new recipes from eatgathergo.org. She came to all 13 lessons of ESMM.”

Francis later shared with the group that, at first, she did not want to attend the classes because she did not feel safe around lots of people. But once there, she said she felt very good about the class, Mar said.

“She said she was passing through a very hard season of depression, but since she started attending the classes, she felt like she belonged and that there were good things for her. She also mentioned that exercising at the gym helped a lot with her depression.”

“NEP does a lot more than just teach and empower people to eat better and become physically healthier,” Mar shared.

“It helps participants in many other ways, like dealing with depression, low self-esteem, sense of belonging, and loneliness,” Mar said. “Many of my participants have told me that they are very glad and grateful that this program exist in Spanish for the Latin community.”