What would you do mom cant afford food

Americans are among the most charitable in the world and it’s most often displayed in small ways and without fanfare. And when ABC’s “What Would You Do?” embarked to see how people would react to a mother in need, the unsuspecting participants did what Americans do.

What Would You Do?

In the experiment for the episode, host John Quinones set up at a local restaurant in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. The three actors — a mother and her two children — are out to celebrate her son’s birthday but can only afford a single quesadilla to share.

As kids often do, not understanding their mom’s already tight budget, they ask if they can get their own meal and possibly splurge on a cake.

Parents who have struggled through hard times financially understand the guilt and shame of wanting to do more for their kids on special days but simply can’t afford to.

Food insecurity

As Quinones points out, 18 percent of Americans live with “food insecurity” every year. And Louisiana is one of the states with the highest number of people living below the poverty line.

While federal programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) exist to alleviate childhood hunger, Americans are quick to offer help to the needy in their communities; an indelible feature of a country founded on Christian principles and the belief that charity starts at home.

And, who knows, those giving today could be the ones in need tomorrow.

Pay it forward.

Watching the scene play out from their tables, fellow diners quietly insisted on paying for the family’s birthday meals. But they didn’t stop there. The good Samaritans also offered emotional support and prayers to the “mom.”

One kind woman even went to find the distressed mother in the bathroom and gave her a $100 bill.

“You just pray for me and I’ll pray for you,” she said as she pressed the money into her hand. “And one day you’re going to pay it forward.”

One young woman encouraged the kids to be thankful for what they have and told them sharing food is sometimes what you have to do.

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In every case, those offering help explained to Quinones that they’d been through similar hard times. They recalled what it had meant to them when complete strangers helped them get through difficult times.

Good intentions

That’s not to say well-intentioned strangers don’t sometimes read situations incorrectly. In another “What Would You Do?” episode, one woman’s intention to help turned into a racially charged embarrassment.

Thankfully, once again, Americans stepped in to correct the injustice they were witnessing.

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It’s a great reminder that despite what we may see in the news, Americans are still more inclined to reach out to their neighbors when they see distressing situations than not.

We live in times of global economic recession and some people are affected more than others. According to the Huffington Post, “1 in 3 people in the United States are only one or two paychecks away from homelessness”.

This is surely an intriguing number. Moreover, in Fort Lauderdale (Florida) a legislation was passed which prohibited feeding homeless people. A 90 year old actually was arrested since he rejected this controversial law.

How would you react if you see someone hungry and in need? Would you help or just look the other way?

The TV segment “What would you do” from the American ABC channel aims to answer this question by conducting social experiments with hidden cameras. In this particular case, a single mom at the grocery store can not afford food for her kids.

Watch the eight minute video and be ready to see humans in actions. How would you react if you have seen this woman? Would you try to help? Or should everyone stand on his or her own feet? Leave a comment below!

Paying it forward is such a powerful gift! Please Share with Family and Friends:

What Would You Do Mom Can’t Afford Food Featuring Mary, John and Jane Smith Beatrice and Gloria Davies You are Cordelia Owens Mackenzie Wade Billie Jean Bates Donald James Henry Michael and Dennis Jenkinson Joshua, Marcus and Nicholas Paul

 What Would You Do Mom Can’t Afford Food

Mom can’t just go to the store and buy food. She doesn’t have any money, and she doesn’t want to ask for help. Your mom is trying to figure out how to get food for her family without going hungry.

What Would You Do?

Give Mom a Job: Ask if there are any jobs that you can do around the house so that she can earn some money. Do you have a yard that needs mowing? Maybe there’s a neighbor who needs a babysitter or someone to walk their dog. Maybe there are some errands that you could run for her or lawns that need cutting. You don’t have to come up with an exact plan; just brainstorm with Mom about what would be possible for her in your neighborhood.

Ask for Help: If your family has friends or family members who might be able to help out with groceries, then make sure they know what’s going on and ask them if there’s anything they can do. If your mom is feeling embarrassed about having trouble paying bills or buying groceries, don’t let her feel bad about it — those feelings won’t help anyone. Instead, try explaining why the situation has arisen (maybe she was sick)

Encourage the Mom To Apply For SNAP Benefits

When your mom can’t afford food, it’s a good idea to encourage her to apply for SNAP benefits.

SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and it’s a federal program that gives families money for groceries. You can apply online or in person at your local Department of Human Services office.

You don’t need proof that there’s no food in the house — just proof of income and other household expenses. If you live with your mom, you can show your own income on the application and have it counted as hers.

If she qualifies, she’ll get an Electronic Benefit Card that lets her buy food at most grocery stores. It works like a debit card, but instead of having money directly deposited into her account, SNAP works by giving her a set amount of money every month on which she can spend as she wants.

Take Her to A Food Pantry

The cause of your mother’s financial problems may be due to an emergency, like a car repair or medical bills. Or it could be because she is living paycheck to paycheck, and the next one isn’t coming until next week. It’s important to take a look at what is causing the problem and find a solution that works for both of you.

Here are some ways you can help your mother if she can’t afford food:

1. Take her to a food pantry.

Food banks often provide groceries for people who need help feeding themselves or their families. Some food banks also have nutrition classes, so check with them before heading over. You can find a list of food banks near you using Feeding America’s directory.

2. Ask friends and family members for help with meals.

If you have friends or family members who live close by or who see your posts on social media, ask them if they’d be willing to buy groceries on your behalf so your mom can eat well while saving up money for other expenses. If this is something they’re willing to do, make sure they know what types of foods she likes and how much money she has left after paying rent/mortgage each month (so they don’t spend too much).

Offer Her a Part-Time Job And/or Ask Her For Help Around The House

When you’re a parent, you do what it takes to make sure your kids are taken care of. Unfortunately, that might mean taking on extra work or putting off retirement.

• But what if you’re not in that position? What if your parents can’t afford to take care of themselves, let alone their grandkids?

If you’re the adult child of aging parents who can’t afford food, here are some things you can do:

Offer her a part-time job and/or ask her for help around the house. If your mom needs something to occupy her time, consider offering her a part-time job or asking her to help with chores around the house (mowing lawns, caring for pets, etc.). This will give her a sense of purpose while providing an income source as well.

Donate food or groceries. You don’t have to be wealthy to donate food and groceries; most grocery stores accept food donations, and many offer them at discounts for those in need. If your mom isn’t able to drive herself to pick up donated items from food banks or shelters, consider arranging transportation for her through the senior center or other community resources.

Buy groceries directly from stores rather than ordering online through subscription services such as Blue Apron

Make A List of Jobs Around The House She Could Do And Offer Her A Payment Schedule.

If you’re in a situation where you can help out a family member, the best thing you can do is offer to help them find resources.

If your mom has gotten behind on her bills and she doesn’t have enough money for food, she may be eligible for some government assistance. She can apply for food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, which provides low-income people with financial assistance for groceries. The amount of benefits she receives depends on her income and family size. You can find out if your state offers these benefits at this website from the USDA.

Your mom may also qualify for Medicaid or Medicare if she meets certain requirements. If she has a disability that prevents her from working full time or at all, she may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can learn more about applying for SSDI here.

Conclusion

Making good choices when you have hardly any money on hand is a struggle. Like the mom, don’t give up, there are always options to make ends meet. The hardest part is finding them. Make sure that you have enough food to sustain you and your family. There are ways to do this and we will share them with you in the near future.