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.

 

See the Mama's Kitchen success story (video by Shindy Media):

What We Do

Mama's Kitchen delivers three nutritional meals a day, seven days a week at no charge to men, women and children living with AIDS or cancer. Additionally, Mama's Kitchen provides pantry services (Mama's Pantry) to people affected by AIDS. Through these services, we are able to provide food, compassion and hope to over 1,300 people annually living throughout San Diego County.

History

Mama’s Kitchen was established in 1990 by Laurie Leonard. Laurie was a volunteer at a pantry for people living with AIDS, and noticed shoppers were becoming homebound—too weak to shop for or cook food. She enlisted a group of volunteers to help prepare and deliver free, home-cooked meals to people suffering from AIDS. Laurie had lost her brother to AIDS, and chose to name the organization “Mama’s Kitchen” to honor her mother, Edie.

By 1999, Mama’s Kitchen was delivering 100% of clients’ nutritional needs and serving all San Diego County. Later that year, volunteers began noticing many clients were sharing meals with their children to prevent them from going hungry. These parents were not receiving the vital nutrition they needed, prompting Mama’s Kitchen to create the Children’s Nutritional Health Program to deliver meals to clients’ dependent children.  Read more

Non-Profit Status

Mama’s Kitchen, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Employer Identification Number (EIN): 33-0434246.
United Way Number: 18126
CFC # 87409

Donations to Mama’s Kitchen are deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the IRS.