Ed Pérez arrived in the United States as a child with his family, who left Cuba following Fidel Castro's rise to power. More than six decades later, that Cuban immigrant runs an organization in Jacksonville, Florida, that this year hopes to provide between 100,000 and 110,000 meals to those in need.
Pérez is the founder of Three Grains of Rice Missions, a nonprofit organization that provides food and other resources to homeless individuals, the elderly, families, and residents facing economic hardships.
Her story was featured this Thursday in a report by News4JAX, which highlights how her personal experiences of poverty and adversity ultimately shaped the project she currently leads.
The Pérez family was granted asylum in the United States in February 1963 and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. They arrived with limited knowledge of English and grew up in difficult conditions.
Pérez also mentioned that he suffered trauma during his childhood and later dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder at a time when, he recalls, very little was said about that condition.
"At that time, they had no idea what PTSD was," he/she recounted.
One person turned out to be pivotal in his life: a coach who introduced him to the sport.
"I was very lucky that a coach came into my life and guided me in the world of sports," he recalled.
Decades later, after completing a 42-year career at the railway company CSX, Pérez founded Three Grains of Rice Missions in 2016 alongside his wife, Stacey Pérez.
The organization distributes food twice a week from its base on Edison Avenue, but its assistance doesn't stop with food. It also provides hygiene items, diapers, clothing, and pet food, in addition to offering laundry services and connecting individuals in need with resources to find housing.
Last year, it distributed around 80,000 meals, 22,000 of which were for children, according to News4JAX. By 2026, the forecast aims to reach between 100,000 and 110,000.
The organization also claims to have recently helped 28 single mothers find housing.
Among those seeking help is Buddy Little, who recounted that he lost his home after his landlord sold the properties, forcing him to face rent payments he couldn’t afford.
"I need to eat, and life on the street is tough," he explained. "I don't earn enough to survive, so this helps me a lot."
Volunteer and chaplain Lisa Darrell explained that one of the organization's principles is to ensure that people seeking help do not feel singled out because of their situation.
"We do not judge anyone nor do we want anyone to feel excluded or ashamed," he stated.
The headquarters from which the mission operates also has its own history. In 2023, the VyStar Foundation donated a building to the organization, a contribution that the entity later valued at 570,000 dollars, which allowed for the expansion of its operations.
Three Grains of Rice is currently working with over 70 partner organizations and even welcomes people coming from Georgia seeking assistance.
Pérez now wants to take another step forward. His project is to build a space similar to a small supermarket on an adjacent lot, where people can choose the products they actually need instead of receiving a pre-packaged box.
The plan also includes a community kitchen to teach how to prepare healthy meals, although it still needs to raise funds and obtain the necessary approvals to make it a reality.
The story of the Cuban is added to that of other emigrants who, after rebuilding their lives in the United States, have decided to help the communities that welcomed them.
For Pérez, the mission is to address the urgent needs of the present while keeping an eye on what comes next: "To meet immediate needs while simultaneously helping people build a better future."
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