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.
