Rooted in Love.
Built for Tomorrow.
In loving memory of Maria. Walking alongside orphaned children, those in recovery, and the families who carry them.
"Her strength, resilience, and love lives on."
— Her DaughterThis is the only photograph of my mother that exists. Sharing her with you means the world to me.
A mother's love
that never fades
Maria was just 23 years old when she passed away, leaving behind a four-year-old daughter and a legacy that would one day become this organization. Her kindness, strength, hard work, and deep Christian faith made her unforgettable.
Everyone who knew Maria still speaks fondly of the warmth she carried. Though their time together was far too short, it planted in her daughter the seeds of resilience, purpose, and an unrelenting drive for a better tomorrow.
Maria's Daughter exists because of that love. Every child we serve, every life we touch in recovery, every family we walk beside carries a piece of her spirit forward. Her memory does not fade; it grows with every life we touch.
Lifting up children
so they can rise.
The kitchen is the heart
of any space.
I’m Yenifer Helms, Maria’s daughter. I always say that a loving mother’s love is a protective shield. When she leaves this earth, her children fall unprotected. That happened to me. The years after my mother passed were filled with hardship, and I know what it is to be hungry with no way to feed yourself.
My mother’s last message to me was transcendent. She held my hand, we stared into each other’s eyes, and I felt her warmth and love. I could hear her tell me to keep going, that I was strong, that my time would continue without her, and to be good. And I heard the words, “You can do it.” They saved me and have kept me going ever since.
Learning to fend for myself and learning the craft of cooking fed my soul. I trained as a chef at The French Culinary Institute in New York and have cooked professionally for 15 years. I teach cooking classes through my food business, Taste That, and I’m bringing those classes to kids.
My mother’s heart lives in all I do, but I feel it most when I’m giving back through my craft.
I know now that my purpose was to one day be armor for those in need. Children are the good in this world, and I’m bound to fight and walk for them.
Where we are today
- Our founder volunteers her culinary training to Maria’s Daughter.
- Taste That, her food business, partners with Maria’s Daughter through donations and volunteer time.
What we hope to do
- That no child who comes our way goes hungry from that day on.
- Free cooking classes for kids whose families can’t afford them.
- Love, warmth, kindness, and strength for children who have been abused, mistreated, or made to feel like a burden.
- To walk beside children who have lost a parent, so they never face the world unprotected.
Plant a seed.
Change a life.
As a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your gift is tax-deductible.
Donate in Maria’s HonorWe'd love to
hear from you
Whether you're looking for support, want to volunteer, or feel called to partner with us, our door is always open, just as Maria's was.
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