The San Diego community once again demonstrated its unwavering support for Mama’s Kitchen, raising over $170,000 at the 34th Annual Mama’s Day culinary event held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
This year’s event also marked the introduction of the Resiliency Fund, which aims to secure $1 million to sustain Mama’s Kitchen amid significant federal funding cuts resulting from the recently passed federal budget bill.
Eva Matthews, the CEO of Mama’s Kitchen, expressed her gratitude for the community’s support.
“Every year we are blown away by the outpouring of support we receive for Mama’s Day, but this year, as we face funding cuts that directly impact almost 40% of the people we serve, that support is more important than ever,” Matthews said.
She further explained that the funds raised would be crucial in serving clients who rely on their services during this critical time.
In addition, Matthews highlighted the importance of the new Resiliency Fund, emphasizing its role in ensuring that individuals do not lose access to essential services amid upcoming policy changes.
The attendees of the Mama’s Day event enjoyed a delightful evening featuring cuisine from popular culinary partners including 6th & G Breakfast Co., Babe Kombucha, Carnitas’ Snack Shack, The Cottage, La Gran Terraza, Maya’s Cookies, Off The Plancha, Pali Wine Co., The Pastrami Stand, Piatti, R&B Tea, Sally’s Fish House, Snooze A.M. Eatery, and Sushi Assassin, who provided unlimited tastings throughout the night.
Alongside the culinary offerings, guests were entertained by live music and dazzling magic performances, while also receiving an extensive overview of the Resiliency Fund from Matthews.
The urgency for the Resiliency Fund comes in light of alarming funding cuts faced by Mama’s Kitchen.
As of this year’s Mama’s Day, the organization had already been informed of the cancellation of one of its largest federal funding sources, resulting in a staggering annual loss of over $200,000.
Following the signing of the federal budget bill on July 4, the expected loss increased to $350,000 annually.
With 42% of Mama’s Kitchen’s funding derived from federal sources, including grants and Medi-Cal reimbursements, the implications are dire—potentially jeopardizing up to 400,000 meals provided for 1,300 individuals annually.
This means that 1,300 critically ill San Diegans who depend on Mama’s Kitchen for medically tailored meal deliveries will face severe constraints in their battle against illness.
For many of these individuals, these specialized meals are not merely a nutritional option, but a vital resource in their treatment regimen.
The Resiliency Fund is specifically designed to support these medically tailored meal deliveries, ensuring that no individual in need will be turned away from Mama’s Kitchen’s essential services.
The importance of medically tailored meals reaches far beyond individual recipients.
Studies have demonstrated that these specialized meals provide rich, nutrient-dense options tailored for specific health conditions, which can significantly enhance treatment efficacy.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that when patients with complex health conditions are provided with medically tailored meals, hospitalization rates decrease by 50%, and emergency room visits decline by 70%.
This reduction in emergency healthcare needs can lead to significant cost savings, with estimates suggesting that net healthcare costs could be reduced by 16%.
A similar study conducted by the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy found that if all eligible patients received medically tailored meals, around 1.6 million hospitalizations could be preventable, translating to a remarkable $13.6 billion in savings within the first year of widespread adoption.
Medically tailored meal providers like Mama’s Kitchen play a crucial role in delivering life-altering care to the chronically ill, who constitute 50% of national healthcare expenditures.
Supporting medically tailored meal programs has a dual impact: aiding individuals with chronic illnesses while also relieving pressures on the broader healthcare system.
While donations to the Resiliency Fund are the most effective way to support Mama’s Kitchen’s meal delivery services, individuals looking to contribute can participate in various ways.
Mama’s Kitchen is always in need of volunteers to assist in food preparation, answer phones at the reception desk, or deliver meals across San Diego.
Volunteering not only allows community members to have hands-on involvement in the daily operations of Mama’s Kitchen but also helps mitigate the financial challenges presented by recent funding cuts.
image source from：timesofsandiego
