From Mel,
Hi, I am Melanie Alvarez. I was a junior at Texas A&M University studying biomedical engineering when I started Meals by Mel. I am the daughter to Juan and Eloisa Alvarez, born and raised in Houston. In March of 2021 my father, mother, and I were diagnosed with COVID-19. Surprising to all of us, my father became critically ill at a fast rate sending him to the ICU. He fought hard for a little over three months before losing his fight. Over this time, we spent countless of hours in the ICU finding it almost impossible to care for ourselves. Friends stepped in and helped by providing meals for us. Looking back after my father’s passing, I am eternally grateful for all the time I was able to spend with him. I have created Meals from Mel in honor of my dad, Juan Alvarez, and it is my hope to extend the time that families are able to spend with their loved ones at bedside without having to worry about meal preparation or funds.
