13 Facts About Mother Wright

Mary Ann Wright, known as Mother Wright, was a humanitarian activist who lived and worked in Oakland, California and fed East Bay residents for almost 3 decades.

Mother Wright fed more than 450 people a day on a budget of $137,000 a year.

Mother Wright distributed huge quantities of food, clothing and toys each holiday season from her West Oakland warehouse.

Mother Wright was born into an African-American family of Catholics in New Orleans and raised in the small town of Darlington, Louisiana.

Mother Wright grew up poor, lost her mother when she was only 5 years old, and was raised by her father.

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Mother Wright was married at 14 years old and had her first child at 15.

Mother Wright later remarried and had three more children, one of which was adopted.

Mother Wright started out feeding the poor and homeless by serving one meal a week, on Saturdays, downtown at Jefferson Park in Oakland, supported by her $236 Social Security check.

Mother Wright, accepted no pay and was assisted primarily by her daughters.

In 2005, Mother Wright was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans, by the Caring Institute.

Mother Wright met Bill Cosby and Aretha Franklin, and was invited to more than one presidential inauguration.

Mother Wright, who had been struggling with heart trouble for several years, died at age 87 in Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley.

Mother Wright was survived by 10 children, 33 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren, and preceded in death by two sons.