Worcester Business Journal

F O C U S OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN BUSINESS BY MICA KANNER-MASCOLO WBJ Staff Writer C arla Delacruz Davila co-founded e WellStorm because she knew what it was like to go without. Established in 2021 with Yesenia Arroyo, e WellStorm is a Southbridge nonprofit focused on combatting food insecurity and home- lessness while addressing mental health needs through community fridges, peer-to-peer groups, and supportive programming. ese three pillars were inspired by the childhoods of the organization's founding mothers. Aer moving to the mainland United States from Puerto Rico as a child, Dela- cruz Davila experienced homelessness and food insecurity, living in a shelter with her mother and brother aer leav- ing a domestic violence situation. "When you go through something, we sometimes associate shame with it, and we shouldn't, and then we don't want others to know about it. But she used that to motivate her to help others," said Suzanne Graham Anderson, founder and CEO of professional consulting firm Positively Suzanne in Worcester. Graham Anderson met Delacruz Davila at a networking event in 2022 and was immediately im- pressed by her dedication to not wanting others to go through what she had to. Delacruz Davila is doing so through several efforts through e Well- Storm that work together to break down barriers between individuals and the supports they need. Her first initiative was to establish food drives, handing out boxes of food to individuals and families. at project grew into e Bridge Fridge, a community fridge op- erating 24/7. e initia- tive originally provided individuals and families with groceries once week- ly, but now offers them three times per week at its Southbridge location, featuring an upright freez- er and pantry area where individuals can find non-perishable food items and sometimes essentials such as blankets. Volunteers come every day to clean and maintain the space. e WellStorm partners with UMass Memorial Health - Harrington Hospital, which operates two Bridge Fridges in Webster and Southbridge, and the non- profit is working to establish two more in Fitchburg and Leominster. "I feel like we expand wherever we can," said Delacruz Davila. "Every community is our community … I don't feel like I have to be in just one place to make a difference." e nonprofit has grown nearly every year since its founding, rising from $11,669 in annual revenue in fiscal 2021 to $91,834 in fiscal 2023. In the most recent fiscal year, Wellstorm generated $61,440 in revenue and held $43,883 in assets, according to the nonprofit tracker Guidestar. A licensed social worker, Delacruz Davila knows the consequences when mental health needs go unaddressed, and she has incorporated programming into e WellStorm specifically targeting those unmet needs. Growing up in a Latino home, she has had first-hand experience with the stigma existing within her community around reaching out for mental health support. Working her day job as program coordinator for Diversity & Student Success and case manager of the Coach- ing Program at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Delacruz Davila supports students as they navigate very real emotional and life challenges as they work to complete demanding degrees in the medical field. "Sometimes people think about their past traumas and feel like 'I can't move on,' and that's when the drug abuse happens, or the alcoholism, or whatever the case may be," she said. is past summer, e WellStorm hosted a free, one-week children's camp at Worcester State University, in partner- ship with its Latino Education Institute, providing 19 participants with emotion- al support through art. Wellstorm hosts virtual monthly mom-to-mom peer groups aimed at ad- dressing postpartum concerns in a space emphasizing maternal wellbeing. is year, the nonprofit launched a monthly virtual anxiety workshop. Working collaboratively with other individuals and organizations has been Carla Delacruz Davila Co-Founder & president of e Wellstorm, in Southbridge Case manager at UMass Chan Medical School, in Worcester Residence: Southbridge Education: Bachelor's degree from Becker College and master's degree in social work from Springfield College How are things changing for professional women? In Worcester, professional women are breaking new ground, from leading in biotech, health care, and education to transforming workplace culture. Companies like Culture Redesigned are championing inclusive leadership, while platforms like Positively Suzanne amplify women's voices and inspire confidence. Initiatives such as the Worcester Women's Leadership Conference, YPWA, and Dress for Success further empower growth and connection. While equity challenges remain, Worcester's women are redefining innovation, leadership, and opportunity for the next generation. Delacruz Davila breaks down barriers to necessary care 20 Worcester Business Journal | October 6, 2025 | wbjournal.com PHOTO | MATT WRIGHT

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