About Us
Where We Come From
An old unkept smoke shop selling tobacco products, lottery tickets, processed foods, and other unsavory products. This establishment did not have any foot in the community's best interest, even being right across the street from a local elementary school.
Where We Are Now
We purchased, gutted, and completely renovated the store. Creating a beacon for students and community members. We only serve fresh and healthy produce, fruits, and foods, and engage with the students in our neighborhood with intern programs and much more.
About La Tiendita
Executive Director and Founder, Jason Hernandez,
Executive Director and Founder, Jason Hernandez,
Executive Director and Founder, Jason Hernandez,
Jason Hernandez, born and raised in McKinnney, Texas, was sentenced to life without parole plus 320 years for a nonviolent drug offense in 1998. While incarcerated he
turned his life around. In 2011 he sent a letter to President Obama asking to have his sentence commuted. In 2013 President Obama granted Jason clemency. Since his release in
Jason Hernandez, born and raised in McKinnney, Texas, was sentenced to life without parole plus 320 years for a nonviolent drug offense in 1998. While incarcerated he
turned his life around. In 2011 he sent a letter to President Obama asking to have his sentence commuted. In 2013 President Obama granted Jason clemency. Since his release in 2015 he has advocated to end mass incarceration and the school to prison pipeline.
https://www.getclemencynow.org/ Because of his work with criminal justice reform and his community in 2024 President Biden granted Jason a full Executive Presidential Pardon,
Gonzalo Serrano, Board Member
Executive Director and Founder, Jason Hernandez,
Executive Director and Founder, Jason Hernandez,
Gonzalo Serrano grew up in McKinney. A son of Mexican immigrants and the first in his family to graduate high school and attend college, Gonzalo developed a passion for education at an early age. Graduating from McKinney High School in 2003, he then earned his bachelor’s degree from McMurry University in 2006, followed by his law degree f
Gonzalo Serrano grew up in McKinney. A son of Mexican immigrants and the first in his family to graduate high school and attend college, Gonzalo developed a passion for education at an early age. Graduating from McKinney High School in 2003, he then earned his bachelor’s degree from McMurry University in 2006, followed by his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law in 2014.
Gonzalo is an attorney at Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian, a criminal defense firm located in McKinney. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the McKinney Chamber of Commerce and the McKinney Inclusion Council. Gonzalo is a graduate of
the McKinney Chamber Leadership Class of 2023. Gonzalo is passionate about public
service and is committed to serving as a resource for his community.
Justin Beller, Board Member
Executive Director and Founder, Jason Hernandez,
Justin Beller, Board Member
Justin Beller was elected as the City Council member representing District 1 in 2021.
Council member Beller is a native Arkansan who has lived and worked in Collin County since 2005. He is a sixth-generation community banker and currently works for Independent Financial in McKinney. He has a B.A. and M.B.A. from Harding University and atte
Justin Beller was elected as the City Council member representing District 1 in 2021.
Council member Beller is a native Arkansan who has lived and worked in Collin County since 2005. He is a sixth-generation community banker and currently works for Independent Financial in McKinney. He has a B.A. and M.B.A. from Harding University and attended the Graduate School of Banking at SMU. Council Member Beller actively volunteers in McKinney. He is an alumnus of the Leadership McKinney program and has
served on many nonprofit and city boards including Holy Family School, the McKinney Housing Authority, and the Chamber of Commerce. He also volunteers as a mentor for youth in our community.
About La Tiendita
D’Anna Paty, Board Member
Sergio Maldonado, Board Member
Sergio Maldonado, Board Member
D’Anna grew up in Allen where she was one of the oldest of a total of 13 kids. She has been in banking for 15 years. She had worked at Chase Bank where she managed a location that had over 1 billion dollars in assets. In 2019 she made the leap with Valliance Bank as a Branch Manager which has allowed her to give back to the community thro
D’Anna grew up in Allen where she was one of the oldest of a total of 13 kids. She has been in banking for 15 years. She had worked at Chase Bank where she managed a location that had over 1 billion dollars in assets. In 2019 she made the leap with Valliance Bank as a Branch Manager which has allowed her to give back to the community through her bank and personally. She is a member of McKinney Young Professionals, a Reach Mentor, and is part of the Hugs Gala Committee. Hugs has a special part in heart being she has a special needs brother.
Sergio Maldonado, Board Member
Sergio Maldonado, Board Member
Sergio Maldonado, Board Member
Sergio is the President at SLM General Contractors, a full-service construction, remodeling, and roofing company, serving
communities across North Texas. SLM has twice been voted Best of Houzz in Customer Service and Best Remodeling
Company in McKinney and Allen TX by Living Magazine establishing the company as an industry leader. Sergio ha
Sergio is the President at SLM General Contractors, a full-service construction, remodeling, and roofing company, serving
communities across North Texas. SLM has twice been voted Best of Houzz in Customer Service and Best Remodeling
Company in McKinney and Allen TX by Living Magazine establishing the company as an industry leader. Sergio has dedicated himself to studying and developing social and business skills to help and mentor troubled youth through his work with numerous non-profits in the community.
Sherry Peper, Board Member
Sergio Maldonado, Board Member
Sherry Peper, Board Member
Sherry Pepper is the Business Development Manager at Central Market a Division of H-E-B Grocery and is a resident of Collin County for over 25 years where she is raising two children. She is a University of Texas at Austin graduate with a B. A. in Business Administration. She started her career in Consumer-Packaged Goods at Frito-Lay in D
Sherry Pepper is the Business Development Manager at Central Market a Division of H-E-B Grocery and is a resident of Collin County for over 25 years where she is raising two children. She is a University of Texas at Austin graduate with a B. A. in Business Administration. She started her career in Consumer-Packaged Goods at Frito-Lay in Dallas. She then moved to Nestle Waters. Both careers were in sales, delivery/service, and product management. She has spent the last 20 years working in the grocery industry at H-E-B in the Central Market Division. Her experiences span an array of areas from store operations, Division wide procurement, to prepared foods business development.
During her time at H-E-B, Sherry was Board Member of the Career and Technical Education Programs for Plano ISD for three years. CTE Programs prepare students for a career after high school graduation or in preparation for college.