CINCINNATI — The pandemic is leaving more families on the brink of losing everything, but one group of moms is expanding in order to respond to the need. 

Tina McCantz tries to prevent becoming emotional at home in front of her children, but sometimes, she still ends up in tears. 

She says she was in an abusive relationship for years, witnessed by her children.

“They saw me get abused, beat, humiliated, cursed out, disrespected… everything,” said McCantz.

McCantz said it was her kids who gave her the strength to get away, get help and get her own place in Cincinnati, but now she said it’s a battle to keep that place. 

“It’s one month, just this one month that I got sick and I couldn’t afford to be sick, I know I can’t afford to be sick,” said McCantz.

She says COVID-19 affected everyone in her family and left her without a job, which resulted in an eviction notice. She’s not alone. 

“So many people are struggling and are afraid they’re gonna lose their homes or be without power,” said Moms on a Mission of Service group organizer, Tika Morrison.

Morrision knows because she helped launch the group, Moms on a Mission. It’s a community group of mothers, started on Facebook before COVID-19, to help new moms with baby supplies.

During the pandemic, its mission expanded. The group started giving out food, and now, helps others to pay bills, rent and utilities.

“I know people are struggling, I’ve been a single mom because I’ve struggled, I live paycheck to paycheck now, but I’m able to do it, and God’s been good to me and I want to give back,” Morrison said.

“We don’t have the funds either, but little by little, we help one at a time,” she added.

Currently, the group is raising money to help McCantz pay the rent so her family will have a place to stay, for now. 

“I was feeling helpless, and now I feel hopeful,” said McCantz.

For more information on Moms on a Mission, you can reach out to the group on Facebook here.