Yehyun Kim

Photographer

www.yehyunkim.com

Moneisha Bryan

Follow Hire

Location: Secaucus, New Jersey

Nationality: South Korean

Biography: I'm based in Secaucus, New Jersey and available for freelance photo and video work in NJ and NY. I was born and raised in South Korea and moved to the U.S. in my early twenties to live a life doing what I'm passionate about – telling... MORE

Aaron Hodges, then 6, the oldes...orker as a pharmacy technician.

Aaron Hodges, then 6, the oldest child at the YMCA Toddler Care Center in East Hartford, focuses on reading an e-book while other younger children socialize. Although the care center is for three and four-year-old kids, he was accepted because Bryan was an essential worker as a pharmacy technician.

Moneisha Bryan gives wasabi to ...ife a lot during the pandemic.

Moneisha Bryan gives wasabi to Aaron Hodges, 7, after grocery shopping. Bryan said government aids, including increased SNAP benefits, stimulus checks and Medicaid, have helped the family's life a lot during the pandemic.

From left, Myron Hodges Jr., th...use they can have fun for free.

From left, Myron Hodges Jr., then 3, Moneisha Bryan, and Kayden Hodges, then 4, head home after hanging out at a park in Manchester. Going to parks is a big part of her family life, partially because they can have fun for free.

Warmer weather in Florida was o...verywhere at every park."

Warmer weather in Florida was one of the reasons why Bryan planned to move to the south. "I just think it would be good for the me and my boys because we're always outside," Bryan said. "In the summer time, we're everywhere at every park."

Aaron Hodges, then 6, holds his... were happy," Bryan said.

Aaron Hodges, then 6, holds his mom's wrists in August, 2020. Bryan reduced her working hours by almost half last summer to educate and spend time with her children. "My kids were happy," Bryan said.

Bryan got rid of most of her fu... money sit in the living room.

Bryan got rid of most of her furniture to move to Florida. Bags of plastic bottles that she collected to get money sit in the living room.

Bryan's three sons get rea... her house clean all the time.

Bryan's three sons get ready to go to church. Bryan said the pandemic has taught her to accept her situation and focus on being happy, instead of obsessing with keeping her house clean all the time.

Bryan's three sons hang ou...ging products Bryan asked for.

Bryan's three sons hang out in the toilet paper section during grocery shopping. They tried to help their mom by bringing products Bryan asked for.

Moneisha Bryan sheds tears whil...my old self," Bryan said.

Moneisha Bryan sheds tears while talking about her past time to her therapist. Bryan said it was tear of happiness about her foundation being better than a few years ago. "Sympathy for my old self," Bryan said.

Bryan had a mental breakdown la... me was going to church."

Bryan had a mental breakdown last winter, but said she is now doing much better. "It was a curse that turned to be a blessing," Bryan said. "The only thing that saved me was going to church."

This spring, Bryan could send h...I was a kid," Bryan said.

This spring, Bryan could send her two older sons to a gymnastics for the first time using a stimulus check. "[I'm] happy because I always wanted to do that when I was a kid," Bryan said.

Bryan picks up a free used bask...deal with what you have."

Bryan picks up a free used basket and a toy on the street. "Money is not the most important thing," Bryan said. "If you don't have it, you don't have it. You got to deal with what you have."

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL

LOVE

Private Story

Moneisha Bryan

Copyright Yehyun Kim 2024

Updated Jul 2021

Jul 18, 2021

Sign-up for
For more access