Mama's Kitchen Newsletter

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Our Mission

At Mama's Kitchen we believe that every person is entitled to the basic necessity of life, nutritious food. As a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization, we prepare and deliver food to men, women and children who are affected by AIDS or cancer.

Event Highlights

An Evening of Camp! Tantrums & Tiaras: Battle of the Bar Queens

More than 700 people gathered at the Birch North Park Theatre on October 25th for the first annual TANTRUMS & TIARAS: Battle of the Bar Queens. Tantrums & Tiaras featured some not-so-skilled drag queens competing in a hilarious, over-the-top beauty pageant that spoofed Miss America, replete with judges, evening gown and talent competitions, and a few unexpected comedic surprises. Making a debut as Miss Bourbon Street, Marc Anthony was the evening's crowned Queen.

Part amateur drag show, part beauty pageant, part benefit…all camp, Tantrums & Tiaras brought in an impressive $48,000 in its inaugural run, far exceeding expectations. The fundraiser was created to help Mama's Kitchen raise much needed funds to provide nutritious meals to those struggling with HIV/AIDS or cancer. Mama's Kitchen will utilize the funds to purchase food and meal containers, providing over 14,000 meals.

Pie in the Sky 2009 – Sweet Success

With an overwhelming amount of community support and help from Wells Fargo, our 2009 Presenting Sponsor, Mama’s Kitchen enjoyed the sweet success of Pie in the Sky this Thanksgiving. The Kitchen was able to raise over $78,000 during our annual Pie in the Sky fundraiser. Delicious fresh-baked apple, pumpkin, pecan and sugar free apple pies were donated from restaurants and caterers throughout San Diego, including Sycuan Casino, Sea World, Elizabethan Desserts, Behind The Scenes Catering, The French Gourmet, Authentic Flavors Catering, Sbicca, Feast On This Catering, Bekker’s Catering, Details Custom Catering, St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, and San Diego Culinary Institute. In addition, many hard-working Pie Seller teams and individuals went all out to sell pies at their workplaces as well as to friends and relatives. Our top three teams were Intuit, Ascent Realty/MDC Group and Northrop Grumman, and our top three individual Pie Sellers were Marion Perlman, Erica Tofson and Laurie Gunn. Volunteers did everything from assembling & labeling pie boxes, staffing pie pick-up locations, and delivering pies. Hats off to everybody who participated! Plan on buying your Thanksgiving pies from Mama’s Kitchen in 2010 and help us continue to spread sweetness to those in need!

18th Annual Tree of Life in Commemoration of World AIDS Day

Candle light Mama's Kitchen held its 18th Annual Tree of Life Ceremony at Village Hillcrest on December 1st in honor of World AIDS Day. This year's theme was Universal Access and Human Rights. "The Tree of Life Ceremony allows the San Diego community to gather together and remember those who are no longer with us because of AIDS," said Alberto Cortés, Executive Director of Mama's Kitchen. "Through this event we can also embrace and show support for members of our community who are still battling daily with this serious disease."

The tree lighting ceremony was emceed by Preston Phillips of KGTV's 10News and attended by elected officials such as Mayor Jerry Sanders, Senator Christine Kehoe, San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, and San Diego Council Member Todd Gloria. A candlelight vigil was led by Terry Cunningham, Chief of the HIV, STD and Hepatitis Branch of Public Health, and holiday music was graciously provided by the Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego and San Diego Men's Chorus.