Like her mother, Rosalinda pursued becoming a home health care provider to take care of others.

“My earliest memories are of my mom caring for individuals in their home or ours for an illness or injury. It’s what I valued, so it made sense years later that my chosen profession would be in health care,” she said.

She spent decades learning under the stewardship of her mother – who also instilled in her a strong passion for volunteerism. Rosalinda began volunteering in 1988 and has since donated her time to various non-profit organizations throughout San Antonio, including the San Antonio Food Bank, where in 2017 she became an Apple Corps volunteer – a leadership volunteer role that commits giving time consistently and regularly.

In 2020, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, her mother-in-law became very ill and abruptly ended up passing away. On the day of her mother-in-law’s funeral, Rosalinda’s husband was overcome with not feeling well and taken to the hospital in a debilitated state. Her husband passed away on the same day they buried their mother – both dying due to COVID-19.

Rosalinda felt herself sinking as her life changed rapidly. She was grieving, numb, and battling the weight of compounded depression. At times, getting through the day was unattainable as she became buried by the pressures of life.

“I was struggling to deal with life, bills, work, on top of losing two people who were a big part of my life,” she said.

As she searched for solace, her healing took longer than expected. Finding herself without a job and falling behind on bills, she remembered the San Antonio Food Bank and how it would help families in need when she volunteered.

“I was treated with so much respect and love at the San Antonio Food Bank. I had never applied for SNAP and Medicare before, so they were able to walk me through the process with so much patience. This is what saved me – having the worry of food insecurity gone helped me focus on my mental health,” she said.

Self-care and self-attention is critical for caregivers, healthcare workers, and our neighbors to remain healthy – especially in times of crisis.

The San Antonio Food Bank will continue to serve our neighbors with empathy. By offering food assistance, benefits assistance, and compassion, the FoodBank creates opportunities for neighbors, like Rosalinda, to heal themselves and serve others.

On December 8, 2021, Ms. Rosalinda Ledesma developed the strength to volunteer again

Thanks to community generosity, our resources and programs can transform lives.