Candy Woodall, Bruce Siwy, Sam Ruland, Ashley Fontones and Chris Ullery, USA TODAY Network Published 3:06 am UTC May. 3, 2021 Candy Woodall, Bruce Siwy, Sam Ruland, Ashley Fontones and Chris Ullery, USA TODAY Network Published 3:06 am UTC May. 3, 2021 Three years ago, at almost 30 years old, Melanie Kifer took a low-wage job in fast food. A McDonald's in Johnstown paid the Mundys Corner mother of three a starting rate of $7.65 an hour — 40 cents above minimum wage. She got a little more than the minimum because she had previous experience at the fast-food chain. But that wasn't enough to help her keep a car on the road or food on the table for her kids.