Press Release
Mama's Heart Gets Bigger! Mama's Kitchen Expands Meal Services To People With Critical Illnesses
SAN DIEGO, March 13, 2006 - Mama's Kitchen, a nonprofit meal delivery service dedicated to providing nutritional meals to San Diegans with HIV/AIDS, announced today that the Board of Directors has approved the expansion of Mama's mission to go beyond its current focus and embrace those under the age of 60who are critically ill with other diseases and in need of the kitchen's nutritional service. The Board's decision was the culmination of a thorough strategic planning process that began in fall 2004 and included a community needs assessment, focus groups, surveys, interviews with the agency's stakeholders, and a pilot project initiated in August 2005.
"Mama's Kitchen begins a new era with our mission expansion. Mama's Kitchen started as a grass roots organization whose early efforts were driven by the compassion of ordinary people who saw a practical need to help those who were suffering from AIDS. We have come full-circle as an organization whose compassion embraces others who are critically ill, isolated and unable to prepare their own meals," said executive director Alberto Cortés.
"Mama's Kitchen has an unwavering commitment to continue to serve and provide nutrition to our HIV/AIDS community with the same compassion and care as in our early days. For more than 15 years, we have developed the expertise and the capacity to deliver nutrition to people who are too sick to cook for themselves and we have done this with a great deal of efficiency. We are confident that we can serve individuals in the San Diego community who are physically and mentally unable to prepare their own meals due to a medical disability with the same level of care, and without diminishing our commitment to the nutritional needs of people affected by HIV/AIDS," adds Mr. Cortés.
With 30 delivery routes throughout San Diego County , and a strong volunteer corps that exceeds 800, Mama's Kitchen has the current infrastructure to begin nutritional services immediately to critically ill clients. There are specific eligibility criteria and as in the core program, clients have to be referred by case managers or physicians. The integration will be seamless, as Mama's has the capacity to prepare up to 1300 meals every day. For more information about the expanded program, contact executive director Alberto Cortés at 619-233-6262.
About Mama's Kitchen
Mama's Kitchen was founded in 1990 when volunteers from the AIDS Assistance Fund, a food bank for people with AIDS, 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 food. Today, Mama's Kitchen prepares and delivers three meals a day for every day of the week to about 300 men, women, and children affected by AIDS or other critical illnesses in San Diego County. Mama’s Kitchen is located at 1875 Second Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101. For more information, visit http://www.mamaskitchen.org.
Immediate Release Contact:
Melinda Balkom, Director of Development and Communications, Mama’s Kitchen
Direct: 619-233-6262 x112 | melinda@mamaskitchen.org
