by Mama’s Kitchen has been offering free, medically customized meal deliveries to sick San Diego residents for the past 35 years.
They have provided 900,026 meals to 2,853 people in the past year alone in an effort to aid those who are ill and at risk of malnutrition.
A caregiver from San Diego founded the group in 1990 because she was worried about how the AIDS epidemic was affecting her neighbors. She organized a team of volunteers to prepare and distribute free meals to AIDS patients.
Since then, Mama’s Kitchen has grown to provide services to those suffering from a wide range of serious conditions, such as HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure, Type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.
Mama’s Kitchen receives funding from both government and non-governmental sources through contracts and contributions. However, federal financing, which CEO Eva Matthews points out had only increased over time in the past, has been drastically reduced.
At the end of April, Mama’s Kitchen’s funding under a continuing agreement with the federal Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, orHOPWA, program came to an end.
In the three years that the HOPWA contract was supposed to cover, this adds out to a total loss of $600,000.
To try to prolong the current year, the county is searching for non-HOPWA monies, but as of right now, we don’t have any proof that they can do so, Matthews stated. We are somewhat in limbo.
Mama’s Kitchen has lost $350,000 this year alone after another $150,000 from a federally sponsored community block grant was revoked.
According to Matthews, 42% of Mama’s Kitchen’s revenue comes from federal grants, which equates to almost 400,000 meals for 1,300 people who are at risk.
In an attempt to raise $1 million for the charity, Mama’s Kitchen has started a Resiliency Fund to offset federal cuts.
Our goal with the Resiliency Fund is to provide stability during an uncertain period so that we can continue to provide uninterrupted services and remain at the forefront of our offerings while ensuring that we are reaching all those in need, Matthews stated.
In late July, the charity raised over $170,000 thanks to the community’s support for their annual gourmet event fundraiser. Services like Mama’s Kitchen’s have grown even more important, though, as funding for programs like Medicaid and SNAP has also been cut.
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Denise Foster, a Mama’s Kitchen volunteer, has over 40 years of experience as a nurse. She claimed that her work has demonstrated the significance of nutrition for both health and recuperation.
Beyond the meals, however, the food delivery service gives those with chronic illnesses opportunities for social interaction that they might not otherwise have. Foster said she has spoken to and grown to know many of the people she delivers food to on Tuesdays in North County, whether it be about politics, their families, or their health.
“Our staff and volunteers’ visits truly foster a caring environment for those Mama’s Kitchen serves,” Matthews added. Giving them the proper nutrients for their diagnosis and doing so out of love is more important than simply serving them a meal.
