A mother is always a mother – even when her children are grown.
Dana, a veteran who lives in Monongahela, is doing everything she can to support her adult children who have been directly affected by the government shutdown. Two have lost access to SNAP and one is working without pay. “You deliver meals, and you do the best you can. But then that gets hard on [their father and me] as well because I’m trying to stretch it for everybody else and for us too.”
Dana also loves to cook and looks forward to hosting her family during the holidays. “As a mom last night, my brain did not stop because it’s like, okay, Thanksgiving is coming and everybody does come to mom’s house and I cook,” says Dana. “That’s what I do and that’s how I show my love for everybody else. And I don’t just have my family. I have my neighbors come over and extended family comes over.” But Dana says she will have to limit the number of people around her table this year to have more leftovers to send home with her kids.
To help bridge the gap, Dana brought her daughter N’dya, who lost her SNAP benefits because of the shutdown, to visit the Food Bank’s onsite pantry, The Market. They came looking for anything they can ‘stretch’ to help feed their family, a skill Dana feels is particularly suited to women. “We’ve always had to thrive. And I think as women, we actually know how to do that because we have no choice.”
“I thought it was great,” Dana shared of their experience at The Market. “I thought that was a wonderful setup and a way to do it. I really did. And it shows respect for people as well.”
For N’dya, having her mother by her side, along with resources like The Market, feels like a blessing. She says, “It’s greatly appreciated…And it’s not taken for granted at all.”
Dana’s determination to nourish her children is a reminder that a mother’s love is not just a feeling — it’s an action. It’s a shared meal, a pantry visited, a holiday table set with care.
And just like Dana, each of us has the power to show up for those who are struggling with food insecurity. Whether you’re a parent, a neighbor or simply someone who believes no one should go hungry, your actions matter. From the hours you give, to the dollars you share, the voices you raise, the stories you tell and the days you dedicate — that’s the Power of You.