Mother Wright facts for kids

Mary Ann Wright (born July 11, 1921 – died May 7, 2009) was a kind and helpful person known as Mother Wright. She was an activist who lived and worked in Oakland, California. For almost 30 years, she helped feed many people in the East Bay area.

Mother Wright fed over 450 people every day. She did this on a budget of about $137,000 each year. During holidays, she gave out lots of food, clothes, and toys from her warehouse in West Oakland. She was very active even in her 80s. She often arrived at her foundation at 6 a.m. and worked hard moving boxes herself.

Early Life and Moving to California

Mary Ann Wright was born into an African-American family in New Orleans. Her family was Catholic. She grew up in a small town called Darlington, Louisiana. Her childhood was difficult because her family was poor. She lost her mother when she was only 5 years old. Her father then raised her.

She got married at age 14 and had her first child at 15. In 1950, she moved to California with her nine children. She was a single mother and worked very long hours. She picked cotton, walnuts, and strawberries in places like Hayward and Walnut Creek. She also worked two jobs at once. She was a helper in homes during the day. At night, she worked in a cannery in San Leandro. Later, she married again and had three more children, including one who was adopted.

A Dream to Help Others

In 1980, Mary Ann Wright said she had a special dream. She felt that God told her to feed people who were hungry. "The Lord woke me up in the middle of the night," she said. "He told me what he wanted me to do, which was feed the hungry."

She started by feeding poor and homeless people once a week. This was on Saturdays at Jefferson Park in Oakland. She used her $236 Social Security check to help.

The Mother Mary Ann Wright Foundation

Many people helped Mother Wright's efforts grow. Grocers, produce sellers, church leaders, and city officials joined in. This led to the creation of the Mother Mary Ann Wright Foundation.

Through the foundation, Mother Wright, her family, and many volunteers collected food and clothes. They got these items from local businesses like Safeway and other donors. Then, they gave them to people who needed help. The foundation's main place for giving out items was a warehouse on San Pablo Avenue.

During holidays, long lines of people would form outside the warehouse. Mother Wright was often there, using a bullhorn to lead a prayer. People would pick up bags of food, toys, and even Christmas trees.

Helping Beyond Oakland

Mother Wright's foundation did not just help people in Oakland. It also provided help to people in other countries. The foundation sent aid to Russia and Vietnam. It even started a school in Kenya.

Mother Wright herself did not take any pay for her work. Her daughters mainly helped her run the foundation.

Recognition and Legacy

In 2005, Mary Ann Wright was honored for her caring work. She was added to the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans by the Caring Institute. She met famous people like Bill Cosby and Aretha Franklin. She was also invited to more than one presidential inauguration.

Mother Wright had heart problems for several years. She passed away at age 87 in Berkeley. She left behind 10 children, 33 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren. Two of her sons had passed away before her.