Even on the most difficult days, when Rebeca Lopez feels like she can’t keep going anymore, the smiles of her three children cheer her up. “They give me strength,” she said.

On Saturday night, every moment of pain and resilience that she has lived with as a single mother was encapsulated when she danced a waltz with her daughter Mayte Vera during her quinceañera celebration.

The coming-of-age party was something that both mother and daughter did not think would happen because the family couldn’t afford it — at least not one with the big, beautiful and embellished dress, an elaborate cake and the waltz in a hall filled with friends and family.

But thanks to Lopez’s co-workers at 5 Rabanitos, a Mexican restaurant in the Pilsen neighborhood where she’s been a server for less than two years, the mother and daughter were able to host the celebration because of their fundraising efforts. And with tears in their eyes, the mother and daughter danced that waltz holding each other tight as the crowd applauded.

“I was happy, so grateful, for my children, for my co-workers and for life despite all the hard times,” Lopez said.

When she first told a co-worker, Alfredo Dominguez, three weeks ago that she couldn’t afford a grandiose quinceañera celebration for her youngest daughter and instead invited him to a carne asada, he immediately offered to help to plan a party, she said. Not only that, he galvanized the rest of their co-workers, servers, cooks and dishwashers, to come together to help Lopez organize and pay for the party.

The owner and chef of the high-profile restaurant, Alfonso Sotelo, also pitched in. He offered a space to host the event at a discounted price and, of course, was flexible with Lopez and the rest of the workers to make sure they could take the time from work to enjoy the celebration together.

“All my workers are important to me, they are like family,” he said.

Dominguez and another server at the restaurant, Cory Guzman, paid for the dress that cost around $1,000. Alfredo also helped get the food prepared, secured a bartender for the night and stood by Lopez’s side to help with anything she needed. Guzman also made his specialty dish of spiced shrimp to share with the invitees. Norma Ruiz offered to pay for the alcoholic drinks and other co-workers also donated soda and other necessities for the party.

“This is what everyone should do for one another, be there in the good times and bad times,” Dominguez said.

Reyna Godos, who no longer works at 5 Rabanitos but who is good friends with Lopez and the rest of the workers, got Mayte the cake and her last doll — an important tradition for the mother and daughter because it signifies that the young girl transitioned from a girl to a woman.

For Lopez and her daughter the quinceañera is special because it’s a tradition deeply rooted in culture for her family, who emigrated to Chicago from Michoacan, Mexico. It celebrates a girl’s entrance into womanhood when turning 15. Lopez was able to host it for her first daughter and she wanted to make sure her youngest daughter felt just as special.

And she did.

Mayte laughed, cried and danced, her mother, sister and little brother by her side.

“Together we can accomplish anything, we’re a team,” Lopez said. “I tell them all the time.”

After a long day of work Saturday night, Sotelo and some of the workers joined Lopez and her family at a small venue in the South Side. A crown of lilac balloons adorned the table where Mayte sat with some of her high school friends. Earlier that day, Lopez had decorated the space. The tables all had white tablecloths with purple runners and artificial flower and balloon center pieces. She also added a small dessert table with sweets that some of the attendees helped to make.

The trays of food, which Dominguez brought to the hall along with one of Lopez’s brothers, were lined up on the bar. There was rice, chicken and mole, a traditional Mexican dish that one of Dominguez’s friend helped make.

After dinner, the group surrounded Lopez and her daughter in the middle of the dance floor, dancing to cumbia and banda, cheering for the moment.

“I hope it shows people that good people do exist in this world,” Lopez said. “And that it encourages others to do the same because this single day, I’m sure, I’ll remember forever, (my daughter) she will remember this forever.”

Her co-workers and friends, Lopez said, are selfless. She is still in disbelief that they so willingly offered to support her and her children every time things turn dark on her. But more so, she is grateful that they were there to celebrate together.

Ever since she became a single mother after the end of her relationship little more than a year ago, life for her and her children has not been easy.

She carries the full responsibility to financially support her children, Alan, 10, Mayte, now 15, and her older daughter Diana, 19.

She said all three are considerate and thoughtful. “They never ask for anything I can’t give them,” Lopez said.

“Though I wish I could give them the world,” said the mother as her voiced cracked and she took a deep breath.

So when she took her youngest daughter by the hand in the middle of the dance floor during the quinceañera and saw her smile, she realized that though she may not be able to do it all alone, she has a village that will help when she needs it the most. And that includes family and friends.

A shy Mayte took the mic during her party and thanked everyone.

“Gracias a todos por hacer esta fiesta realidad,” she said, or “Thank you to everyone for making this party a reality.” Her mother followed.

“Sin la ayuda de mis compañeros esto no hubiera sido possible,” meaning that without the help and encouragement from her co-workers, she wouldn’t have been able to host such an important celebration for her daughter.

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