Mama’s Kitchen brings together local bakers to raise essential funds for organization’s nutrition services to benefit women, men and children with critical illnesses
San Diego CA— With summer coming to an end, the holiday season is not far away. Hunger and illness are year-round issues and Mama’s Kitchen’s work to improve the lives of local women, men and children vulnerable to hunger is never done. Making its return to ring in the holiday season is Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale. The annual event helps raise funds for Mama’s Kitchen, a community-driven organization providing nutrition services to San Diegans vulnerable to hunger due to HIV, cancer or other critical illnesses, including congestive heart failure and Type II diabetes.
“Our annual bake sale is a time-honored tradition that gives community members from around the region an opportunity to give back to our neighbors in need,” said Alberto Cortés, executive director, Mama’s Kitchen. “Whether you’re purchasing a pie, making a donation or volunteering for pie delivery, every hand up counts. During the holidays and year-round, everyone is entitled to nutritious food to help fight their battles, and that’s what Mama’s Kitchen strives to accomplish every day.”
Mama’s Kitchen’s bake sale brings together top pastry chefs to donate 4,000 pies
More than two dozen of San Diego’s top pastry chefs, caterers and bakeries will donate their time and talent to bake 4,000 traditional Thanksgiving pies for this year’s Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale. Mama’s Kitchen aims to raise $150,000 during the six-week sales period to fund 51,000 meals to benefit the organization’s clients.
All proceeds from pie sales directly fund Mama’s Kitchen’s services and programs, including its home-delivered meals and pantry services. Additional financial and in-kind support are provided by Sycuan, Wells Fargo, and Shamrock Foods, while CBS Radio’s KYXY 96.5 and Energy 103.7 are the event’s media partner.
Mama’s Kitchen celebrates three decades of community care through food delivery
For nearly 30 years, Mama’s Kitchen has prepared and delivered nutritious meals to local individuals in need. The organization started as a volunteer response to the AIDS epidemic, and now delivers three medically-tailored nutritious meals a day, seven days a week and free of charge to local women, men and children vulnerable to hunger due to HIV, cancer and other critical illnesses, including congestive heart failure and Type II diabetes.
“I have been with Mama’s Kitchen for 20 years and have seen this organization evolve,” says Cortés. “But what makes Mama’s Kitchen truly unique is that we have never forgotten our roots and remain true to our mission. We may have grown, but our vision remains the same: to build a community where individuals with critical illnesses are no longer vulnerable to hunger.”
What to know before purchasing your pies
Sales begin Oct. 7 and continue through Nov. 24, 2019. Pie flavors are pumpkin, traditional apple, pecan and Dutch apple, and are available for just $25 each. Volunteers will deliver the pies to 20 sites throughout San Diego County for pickup Wednesday, Nov. 27. For those who would like to participate in Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale outside of purchasing a pie, please consider donating critical funds directly to Mama’s Kitchen at www.mamaspies.org.
To date, 18 bakers have been confirmed – see full list below. Additional pie bakers are needed to help with the effort. Those interested in participating should contact Silvia Dominguez at 619-233-6262 ext. 114 or silvia@mamaskitchen.org.
- BTS Catering and Events
- Brothers Signature Catering & Events
- San Diego Cake Club
- Jewish Family Service
- Wyndham Destinations
- Handlery Hotel
- San Diego Convention Center
- Soda & Swine
- Twiggs Bakery
- San Diego Chicken Pie Shop *
- Starry Lane Bakery
- NINE-TEN Restaurant
- Soleil
- Sugar and Scribe
- Bite Sized Bakery and Café *
- Jennywennycakes
- Mook and Pop’s Culinary Delights
- Manchester Grand Hyatt
NOTE: * denotes new baker to campaign
Pie sellers and volunteers needed
Individual pie sellers and selling teams are encouraged to volunteer to sell pies for a chance to win prizes from generous sponsors, including a “Stay and Play” package from Sycuan Casino. Pie sellers are also encouraged to use their social media networks to promote their participation in Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale. For information on this year’s fundraising efforts or details on how to get involved, visit www.mamaspies.org or call 619-233-6262.
ABOUT MAMA’S KITCHEN
Mama’s Kitchen was founded in 1990 when volunteers from the AIDS Assistance Fund discovered that many of their clients were becoming too ill to take care of themselves. They realized that a reliable home meal delivery service was needed to ensure that these individuals would continue to receive nutritious, life-sustaining food. In 2004, Mama’s Pantry was opened to provide individuals with HIV who are able to prepare meals the opportunity to supplement their nutritional needs.
For nearly 30 years, Mama’s Kitchen has served nine million meals and has never turned away a client who qualified for its services. The organization’s commitment to its clients remains unchanged and in May 2017 Mama’s Kitchen expanded its mission to serve San Diegans affected by HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure and Type II diabetes. Mama’s Kitchen currently provides delivered meals, pantry services and nutrition education services to over 1,600 men, women and children in San Diego County annually. Learn more and make a donation at www.mamaskitchen.org. Connect with Mama’s Kitchen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.