Celebrating Mother’s Day with Genel “Momma Bear” Wynn

A mother figure is a beautiful thing. The technical definition of a mother figure is a woman who is regarded as a source of nurture and support. To know one is to know that it’s so much more than that. Undoubtedly, it’s a woman who embraces people where they are, spreads love and warmth with the sound of her voice, and truly cares about everyone she comes into contact with. This Mother’s Day, we are highlighting a mother figure central to the Feeding San Diego network. Genel “Momma Bear” Wynn has been running a school pantry at Porter North Elementary in partnership with Feeding San Diego for the past 18 years. She has three children, two of which went to Porter long ago. But she’s stuck around because Porter is where she belongs and where she can make a difference for families by distributing food twice a month.

Genel “Momma Bear” Wynn

Momma Bear’s Story

“I live literally around the corner. I’ve been here for 22 years. It’s home. I know everybody around here. These streets, I know them. I know the kids, I know the community, I know the parents. Running this pantry, I’ve come to know more of the parents,” Genel says. “Their kids would run up to me in the 99 Cent store and go ‘Momma Bear!’ and hug me, and their parents would be like ‘Who’s that lady you hugging?’ and they say ‘Momma, she work at the school.’ I would introduce myself and start telling them to come to the pantry. To tell their friends if they need food to come to the pantry. And it just grew.”

During her early years, Genel cooked for everyone and anyone. She creates deep connections with her community through food. The school pantry food distribution is her baby. It only works because she has a supportive network with other women volunteers from the school community helping her operate it and support her.

“In the beginning, I was getting like 35-40 families, and then I grew up to like 125. Now I’m going to have to take my count back up because I’m getting more people again. They cut the food stamp program again, so people are probably getting a third of what they were getting before. So they need the help. Somebody’s got to be out here to do it, so why not me?” Genel shares.

Mother’s Day Reflection

Mother’s Day is a day to reflect on the act of mothering, and it’s important to acknowledge that this isn’t always easy for everyone. Mother-child relationships can be complicated, and not everyone has a biological parent raising them. Mother figures who offer programs at safe community spaces like schools can fill a void in children’s lives. They are community advocates that create nurturing spaces for youth.

“I’ve been helping take care of kids since I was a kid because that was the culture that we were raised in. We’ve always been there to help support other people. It’s better to help than to receive. For me, it’s just in my blood,” Genel explains. “It’s what God put in my heart to do. When I wake up in the morning, I know that there is a purpose for me to go out and help and do something for somebody else unconditionally, without any expectations whatsoever. It gives me the biggest joy.”

A food distribution at Porter North Elementary

The Deep Impacts of Child Hunger

According to Feeding America, children facing hunger may struggle in school and beyond. Subsequently, they are more likely to repeat a grade in elementary school, experience developmental impairments in areas like language and motor skills, and have more social and behavioral problems. Over 102,000 children in San Diego County are at risk of experiencing food insecurity.

“These kids, you can see when they’re upset and frustrated because they’re not getting that nourishment and that nutrition and that extra food that they need at home for that stability. And it shows in their schoolwork. It shows in their attitude. So, that’s another reason why I want to be here,” Genel says.

Until the problem is solved, we need more advocates like Genel to support our children. Make a donation this Mother’s Day in her honor.