Out of concern for neighbors affected by the AIDS outbreak, a San Diego caregiver founded Mama’s Kitchen in 1990. She organized a volunteer group to cook meals and deliver them to people weakened by AIDS who could no longer shop or cook for themselves. At the peak of the AIDS epidemic, when some hospitals could no longer accept patients, the volunteers persevered to provide those who were critically sick with nutritious meals.
Delivery volunteers later realized that many who were severely ill were sharing their much-needed food with their children. As a result, in 1999, Mama’s Kitchen expanded its home food delivery service to include the dependent children of its clients. Subsequently, applying the lessons learned from AIDS nutrition, the nonprofit further expanded its food home delivery service to other immunocompromised communities.
The nonprofit’s Home-Delivered Meal Service distributes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with snacks, to individuals who have cancer, HIV, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease and are physically or mentally incapable of preparing meals due to their sickness. The only service of its kind in San Diego County, it provides meals daily throughout the year, for free.
Meals are delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays, within a two-hour delivery period as agreed on with the client. The six-week menu cycle follows guidelines set by the American Dietetic Association and is registered dietitian-approved. A range of menu offerings address individual nutritional requirements, including vegetarian, soft, lactose-free, and low-salt options. To qualify for the free meal delivery service, a health care provider or case manager must provide a client referral to Mama’s Kitchen.
Mama’s Kitchen also operates a pantry service for individuals with HIV/AIDS who are economically challenged but capable of shopping and cooking their food. Clients can shop at Mama’s Pantry once a month. In addition to pasta, canned goods, cereals, and other nonperishable goods, Mama’s Pantry offers a limited range of perishable goods, such as bread, meat, and fresh fruit. There is no need for a referral to obtain pantry services, although clients must have written proof of an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, San Diego residency, and income equal to or less than $1,700 per month.
The organization’s Emergency Food Assistance (EFA) program, meanwhile, provides a maximum of 12 weekly grocery bags over 12 months. Each grocery bag includes nonperishable and perishable food items, good for one week's worth of groceries or up to 21 meals, along with a list of menu ideas. Clients can pick up their EFA bags Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm at Mama’s Kitchen.
Funded by the County of San Diego, the Emergency Food Assistance program accepts individuals who are HIV positive and have a referral from a county case manager. There are no income restrictions for participation.
Lastly, Mama’s Kitchen provides medical nutrition therapy. Through this program, clients who receive meals through the organization can take part in a one-on-one meeting with a registered dietitian, free of charge, to develop customized nutritional goals. Eligibility requirements apply. For further details about Mama’s Kitchen, visit www.mamaskitchen.org.
