Photos & Text By Keya Imani Rice

My mother, 59-year-old, Kathleen Greene is at the heart of the Corona Virus Pandemic in Brooklyn, NY.  While many of New York City's residents are staying safe at home, my mother a 25-year food school worker for the Board of Education goes out every day to feed children and adults who would otherwise go hungry. She, just like many other essential workers is putting herself at risk and has not been given the proper protective gear to stay safe during this time. She has improvised and used what she has to stay safe, and this is her story.

Kathleen uses a piece of a stocking to cover her face.

On Monday March 30th, 2020 my mother cut her purple stocking and used it as a face mask. Before the pandemic she would have never considered herself, an essential worker and neither would I. When I was younger, I used to tell people my mother works in a school, without saying her exact position because being a lunch lady wasn’t recognized as a cool or important job like teacher, principal or a school aide. But when I see my mom leave out the door every morning I know even as a food service worker she makes a difference. My mother's elementary school is located in a low-income community and she would stop at the store and buy children gifts or treats for the holidays and bring them to work with her. On many occasions she would tell me about the grateful children who would thank her for serving them and she could tell by the looks in their eyes that the food they receive at school is all the food that they get. Her employer like many others during this pandemic was not prepared, so she made her own mask out of stockings and kept working.

Video: Working Through the Virus

At this early stage in the pandemic my mother and I had no idea how to be our normal selves. Usually we hug several times throughout the day or sit next to each other when watching a movie but during the pandemic there is a social distancing rule. We are technically supposed to be 6ft apart. It poses the question of: whether you socially distance from your family as well? My mom and I live together in a 2-bedroom apartment, it isn't tiny but not large enough that we will never cross paths. How do you socially distance in an apartment? My mom loves playing games and wanted to play Uno this day, so we both suited up. I imagine families across New York City living in apartments have faced the same dilemma.

Kathleen puts on an N95 mask in the mirror before leaving for work.

On April 13th, Kathleen uses an N95 mask my uncle Gary brought to her 2 weeks earlier. Before the pandemic she and her brother hadn’t seen each other for more than a month despite living building away. In a weird way the pandemic is pushing us apart because of social distancing but also bringing us together. When my uncle came over to drop off the N95 mask I went into my room because I was scared. I didn't want to be around people, he was going to work every day and so was my mom, the threat of contamination just seemed imminent for me. By the time this photograph was taken she has washed and reused this mask at least 4 times. The photo on the left is the mask with its straps popped. She eventually had to throw the worn mask away.

Kathleen reads a book at the kitchen table while she wears a surgical mask brought at the pharmacy.

On April 23rd, Kathleen is wearing a surgical mask. While they don't provide protection, they are better than the cloths she started with. Her job also supplies a few of these surgical masks to employees, however she continues to buy more when she can because they are disposable and should not be worn repeatedly. " We should have a box of these masks, because you can’t wear them every day you have to throw them away," said Kathleen. My mom hates these masks not only because they are low quality and must be disposed of after, but also because it irritates her face and rubs against her glasses. She also complains about not being able to breath with it on. My mom and I try to keep our masks on around each other especially since she is going out every day.

Keya and Kathleen have a discussion about proper protocols to follow if one of them gets the virus.

Since the pandemic struck New York in March 2020, my mom has come home coughing, and complaining of a sore throat. She even had body chills one night and I had to bring her two blankets while she laid on the sofa. One day she came home from work and we started talking to each other about how we were feeling. I'd told her that my throat was feeling a little sore and she said hers was too. Her first instinct was to tell me I should go get tested. This resulted in a who knows more match where we went back and forth about which one of should go to the hospital. Neither of us went because authorities said only to go in an emergency, but it’s been hard to know what in an emergency. I drunk tea and my mom laid down and went to work the next day.

Kathleen moves her mask down to take her medicine.

My mom takes medicine for her high cholesterol and high blood pressure every day. She also takes multi vitamins, B-12 and Iron. Since the pandemic started, she added Vitamin C to her daily regimen. She is 6 months away from her 60th birthday.