Ana Ortiz

Ana Ortiz is the founder of No Más Lagrimas/No More Tears, a nonprofit that conducts food rescue and distribution and organizes community events. Ana was born in Puerto Rico and came to the US when she was 16 years old. She enjoyed cooking for community members which led to cooking for larger and larger events, before she could even fully speak English. 
After experiencing domestic violence, Ana left Ithaca with her children, but missed her community here and soon returned, and began giving cooking classes which she combined with teaching about Latin cultures, and in 2009 started No Más Lagrimas from home as a Mutual Aid organization which now includes a weekly food distribution event every Thursday from 4-6PM at the Henry Saint John Building at 301 S Geneva St. In addition to all kinds of food, there is often baby care supplies, health items, cleaning items and more.  
In addition to helping community members with food and other resources,  No Más Lagrimas gathers financial assistance for people in need including for rent. She has coordinated many community events and conducted fundraising for local community organizations. She has organized large festivals for the community, including the Boricua Afro Latino Festival, a Latino Cultural festival, block parties and a Cinco de Mayo celebration. She kicked off community leadership training programs with the Mayor, the fire department and other community organizations, and started the community garden at Chestnut Hill apartments as well a Latino Community Center at the Henry Saint John Building. She is especially adamant about supporting youth and those with incarcerated family members. 
Ana has received a Cornell University leadership grant, the 2020 Laura Holmberg Award from the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation, and was recently celebrated as a Home Town Hero.