Monique, a lifelong Ohioan and single mother to a 14-year-old son, has always been someone who puts others first.
“A caregiver by nature, I can’t seem to stop,” she says.
For years, Monique was the primary caregiver for her mother, who recently passed away after battling cancer. That chapter of her life brought deep emotional strain and financial hardship. Caring for her mom meant stepping away from work and relying on limited support—some of which failed her when she needed them most.
In one instance, she picked up a few extra caregiving hours and it pushed her just $30 over the income threshold for SNAP benefits. The result? It forced her to lose nearly $300 in food assistance.
“$30 took away $297. It makes no sense,” she says. “Whoever created this system has got it rigged well!”
That experience made her cautiously optimistic when Monique first found out she’d been selected for the Ohio Mothers Trust Fund.
“Let’s see how this works and see if it’s real or not,” she thought.
But the support came right on time. The direct cash payouts allowed her to buy groceries and ease some of the daily financial stress that came with caring for a loved one during tough times.
“I am grateful for the program, it came into my life at a needed time so I could take care of my mom with less stress,” she said.
For Monique, journaling has been a lifeline through it all. It helped her process grief, stay motivated and visualize her future. While unpacking in her new home, she came across old entries and was struck by the realization.
“Journaling saved my life,” she said. “I have been motivating myself and I didn’t even know it.”
She had written goals, set them aside and left them on pages—only to later watch them take place in real life. Now, Monique is focused on “rebranding” herself.
“I didn’t realize how much I put on the backburner taking care of my mother,” she told her sister as she assessed where she is and what she’s been through.
Monique says she is now looking into scholarships to study web design or digital marketing with the dream of launching her own line of prompted journals to help others on their respective journeys.
She’s also allowing herself to dream bigger—contemplating finally traveling to Egypt, a place she’s long felt a connection to.
“I have dreams about Egypt, it’s weird,” she said. “Always been interested in Egypt, I want to see the pyramids.”
To critics of direct cash assistance, Monique offers this clear response:
“I would ask them why do you have that mindset? Have you ever been in a situation where you needed funds and they weren’t available to [be able to] make a statement like that?”
She challenges the “bootstraps” misconception that hard work and multiple jobs alone are the only things that guarantee stability.
“The best way to know if it’s a true statement or not is to test it and then see,” said Monique. “This idea of ‘work hard’ and ‘all you have to do is try’, but we know the system is geared toward certain groups of people.”
Monique’s story is one of care, resilience, and new beginnings. With the right support at the right time, she’s no longer just surviving—she’s rebuilding, redefining herself, and inspiring others to do the same.