Abril Barrales, Restaurant Owner
My Story
What is your motivation to go out and work during this pandemic? 
My motivation to go out to work in this pandemic was more than anything to see what my community needs; by opening the restaurant and generating a little money to survive, and at the same time see how I could help my community. By seeing that there were many people out of work, we began to make food and distribute it among the people we knew needed it, with this new experience.
What have you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I learned that life is so fragile that today we are well and in the blink of an eye everything can change. … Staying together as a community and mutual support is the key to surviving hard times, in the same way after being infected with the virus and closing the business for more than a month.
How are you and your loved ones maintaining your health?
My family and I have been following extreme measures to remain healthy, apart of the mask and everything else we try to take teas and eat as nutritious as possible. Despite the pandemic I want my community to know that as long as God allows me, I will always try to support to my community and wherever I can.
John Delgado Statewide Inventory Operations Manager Farm Share, Inc.
Large-Scale Food Bank
My Story
What is your motivation to go out and work during this pandemic?
My motivation is to be an example to my children on how we should respond to the needs of others.
What have you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
How much sacrifice I will do for my family and community.
How are you and your loved ones maintaining your health?
To maintain my family's health as well as myself, I stay away from my family by sleeping outside. So if I catch COVID-19 I won’t expose them to it. Also I risk myself for them by doing the shopping and other activities that are high risk of exposure. Despite the pandemic, I want my community to know that I will do my part to help us get through this even if it costs me another six months or more sleeping outside from my family.
Lucy Mata, LVN Program Supervisor Children’s Mobile Immunization Program
Adventist Health Bakersfield & Tehachapi Valley
My Story
What is your motivation to go out and work during this pandemic? 
My motivation is to do my part and to give back to the community and help others however I can. My drive when I chose my career was my desire to be of service to others, and there is no better opportunity than now.
What have you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I have learned that my family is my greatest gift, my biggest supporters and that I can still help others while safeguarding them at the same time.
How are you and your loved ones maintaining your health?
My loved ones, I’m happy to say, are doing great! I’m taking great precautions to keep them healthy and I can attest it’s worked! Despite me contracting COVID-19 none of my loved ones got sick. The tables were turned for a bit and it was my family taking care of me. We got through it together. Despite the pandemic, I want my community to know that I will continue to help our community to the best of my abilities, and I am ready and willing to help however I can wherever I am needed.