The lush and foggy town of Frailes, nestled in the hills of central Costa Rica, is full of friendly faces. Doña Aracelly’s softly-weathered face stands out as one of the brightest.

As doña Ara (as her neighbors fondly call her) walks down the street, locals honk, run, and slam on their brakes just to say good morning. It’s clear why she is such a trusted soul in her community - from volunteering her time to kick-starting fundraisers in Frailes, she gives back to her neighbors generously.

The youngest of six siblings (all of whom are still local) Doña Ara’s childhood memories revolve around coffee. She fondly recalls the way her beloved late mother drank coffee throughout the entire 24-hour day and still keeps her father’s hand-crafted burlap coffee sacks as keepsakes in her kitchen. She also takes great pride in her share of her mother’s coffee farm, which was divided into plots between Doña Ara and her siblings after their mother passed away. It was Doña Ara that adopted her mother’s matriarchal role, however. Today, she cooks every meal for her elder brother and treats the rest of her very large family to endless homemade empanadas and agua dulce. Her tiny house overflows with love for her family, young and old.