Everyone in the world needs food. And this gives us a shared purpose. Our Community Nutrition Team is committed to building relationships with our partners because we value food and the people who eat it.
For National Nutrition Month, the Community Nutrition Team asked four community partners to share stories about how food connects them to their personal and professional communities. These connections can happen in our Community Kitchen, at a Kids Summer Meals site, or simply at the dinner table with a new friend.
Food Bank Partner Hiliana Patino is a nutrition educator who teaches a six–week nutrition class for NC State Cooperative Extension, a national network providing educational opportunities and programming. Within the Cooperative Extension, Hiliana works for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). In 2024, EFNEP supported over 1,500 families through nutrition education, cooking classes, budgeting tips, and strategies to become physically active.
Much of Hiliana’s work is about connection. Hiliana builds community by connecting participants to healthy eating practices with culturally familiar foods. She spoke with the Food Bank about what these connections mean to her work and community.
“The participatory nature of Hiliana’s class is how nutrition education should be. It led one participant to say that the best thing she learned from the class series was ‘como convivir’ or ‘how to be in community.'”
-Community Nutrition Manager Belén Rogers
What does “Food” mean to you?
Food means happiness, love, colors, flavors, satisfaction, delighting the soul, uniting the family at home, and sharing and caring for others, about culture.
Professionally, how does food connect you to your community or your community to each other?
Food is like a magical language—a unique and universal connector that brings people together, whether in personal, professional, or work settings. Sharing food breaks down barriers and fosters understanding. Regardless of your background or language, food has the power to unite us. Whether through shared meals, cultural exchanges, or even conversations about favorite dishes, food allows us to connect on a deeper level, transcending cultural and linguistic differences.
Personally, how does food connect you to your community?
Food is such a reflection of who we are, and for me, it’s a way to express myself and connect with others. When I cook for my family, friends, or even for the community through my work, it feels natural to build those connections. My job allows me to help families break down myths and discover healthier eating habits, which makes it easier to communicate with them. I also love the sense of adventure that food brings—trying new ingredients, flavors, and recipes. And when I share the meals I’ve prepared, it creates an instant bond. It’s amazing how food can make you feel accepted and truly connected to others.
“Food is like a magical language—a unique and universal connector that brings people together, whether in personal, professional, or work settings. Sharing food breaks down barriers and fosters understanding.”
–Hiliana Patino, Nutrition Educator, Program Assistant, NC State Cooperative Extension
This March, we celebrate National Nutrition Month with our Food Connects Us blog series. The Community Nutrition Team asked four community partners to share stories about how food connects them to their community. This includes Betty Nzau, Rachel Ezzel, and Hiliana Patino. Follow our blog series and go to our Youtube page to learn healthy recipes and cooking tips.
