Mabel was born in Louisiana but moved to California, where she worked for 30 years as a nurse at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She retired and moved back to her hometown of Bernice, LA, in 2022.

Mabel enjoys her time being back home and spends her time singing in church, visiting with family and friends, and exercising. “I have to exercise at my age,” she joked.

But what Mabel loves the most is cooking, with her favorite dish being tacos. She cooks every day.

She enjoys waking up early to listen to her morning prayers and gospel music. She can’t get her day started without it.

Mabel first visited a Food Bank food pantry in 2023 when she needed grocery assistance. She was recommended to visit New Hopewell BC in Bernice. There, she’s been able to receive groceries each month.

“I’m on a fixed-income. I get paid once a month, and I’m struggling at the end,” she explained.

After many years as a nurse, her instinct to help others is still alive. When she picks up her food at the food pantry, she will collect food for our neighbors who are homebound and deliver it to them.

“I love to help people who need it. I’m very empathetic.”

“The Food Bank helps me a lot,” she said. “Sometimes all I have to do is go to the store for an item or two and I’m good.”

“The Food Bank helps a lot of people who need it. They really make a difference,” Mabel told us.