By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–Mama’s Pies’ annual bake sale was a huge success in its 20th year, raising more than $172,000 for Mama’s Kitchen’s critical medically tailored meal delivery services, the organization announced.
Mama’s Kitchen raised $27,000 more than the nonprofit organization’s original $145,000 goal set for this year’s pie sale.
“Our community went above and beyond to make the 20th anniversary of Mama’s Pies special, by helping us exceed our fundraising goal to fund the preparation and delivery of more than 59,516 medically tailored meals for San Diegans with critical illnesses,” says Eva Matthews, CEO of Mama’s Kitchen. “None of this would have been possible without the incredible support from all the bakers who volunteered their time and talent to bake these delicious pies, as well as all the Mama’s Kitchen volunteers and staff who helped assemble boxes, sort orders, and distribute pies.”
This year, more than 68 pie sellers across 19 pie teams amassed more than 3,000 total pie sales. The top pie-selling teams were Jack in the Box and Del Taco, Klinge Realty Group, and Volunteer with Cheli, while the top individual sellers were Neda Nourani, Dr. Matt Hubbard, and Steve Carnes.
In addition to pies baked by Jennywennycakes, Starry Lane Bakery, and Bahia Resort Hotel, Mama’s Pies featured a generous donation match from John Crisafulli, president and CEO of Behind the Scenes Catering and Events. Crisafulli’s catering company has participated in Mama’s Pies every year since its inception, and this year, they made a $10,000, dollar-for-dollar donation match that helped the organization surpass its fundraising goal.
In addition to pie purchases, San Diegans had the opportunity to donate money directly to Mama’s Pies through the “Holiday Feast” option, which sent $32 straight to the organization. Today, Mama’s Kitchen has raised more than $2.3 million and sold more than 91,000 pies over the last two decades of the annual sale.
Mama’s Kitchen stated that the Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including Sycuan Casino Resort, Scatena Daniels Communications, and Shamrock Foods Company.
Bakers who participated this year, included Bahia Resort Hotel, Bear Buns, Behind the Scenes Catering, Hyatt Regency La Jolla, Jennywennycakes, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Ocean Beach People’s Food Co-op San Diego Convention Center, Starry Lane Bakery, Sugar & Scribe, Sycuan Casino Resort, The Wild Thyme, Tinleaf Fresh Kitchen, and Travel & Leisure.
Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale will return for its 21st year in October 2025.
Anyone interested in participating in Mama’s Pies 2025, either as a baker or a sponsor, contact Silvia Dominguez at silvia@mamaskitchen.org. For more information on Mama’s Pies and Mama’s Kitchen, visit mamaskitchen.org.
Mama’s Kitchen was established in 1990 by a San Diego caregiver who enlisted volunteers to prepare and deliver free meals to neighbors who were sick with HIV/AIDS and unable to cook for themselves. The organization realized that a reliable home-delivered meal service was needed to ensure that these individuals would continue to receive nutritious, life-sustaining food. Since then, the organization has expanded its Medically Tailored Meal Service program to other at-risk populations including those living with cancer, individuals with heart failure and diabetes, and individuals with chronic kidney disease. Beyond medically tailored meals, clients also receive nutritional counseling from registered dietitians.
In 2024, the organization delivered its 12 millionth meal and became just the second organization in the country to earn accreditation from the Food is Medicine Coalition.
For 34 years, Mama’s Kitchen has never turned away a client who qualified for its services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization responded to an overall 120 percent increase in demand. The organization continues to provide more than 900,000 home-delivered medically tailored meals and nutrition education to more than 3,000 individuals and families in San Diego County annually.
