Community raises $170K for Mama’s Kitchen as funding cuts loom
San Diegans raised over at the th Annual Mama s Day to encouragement medically tailored meals for critically ill residents Photo courtesy of Mama s Kitchen The San Diego group turned out in full force to endorsement Mama s Kitchen at the th Annual Mama s Day culinary event raising more than to help provide medically tailored meals to critically ill residents Held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront the evening also marked the constituents launch of Mama s Kitchen s new Resiliency Fund a million campaign designed to offset major federal funding cuts that threaten the organization s services Every year we re overwhelmed by the generosity shown at Mama s Day disclosed CEO Eva Matthews But this year s promotion means even more as we face funding losses that will impact nearly of the people we serve The funds raised will help us continue to show up for our clients when they need us the majority We were also proud to introduce the Resiliency Fund which will help ensure that no one loses access to the meals they rely on no matter what procedures changes come our way What s at Stake The Resiliency Fund in Action Mama s Kitchen not long ago learned it will lose one of its largest federal funding sources an immediate shortfall which will now climb to annually due to cuts included in the federal budget bill signed on July These cuts impact Medi-Cal reimbursement programs that right now fund about of the organization s services The Resiliency Fund was created to help recover these lost dollars and ensure the continued delivery of medically tailored meals to clients who qualify through Medi-Cal Without it up to meals for people each year are at hazard For a multitude of of Mama s Kitchen s clients San Diegans living with serious illnesses like cancer HIV heart syndrome or kidney failure these meals are more than a convenience They are a critical lifeline Medically tailored meals help clients better manage their conditions recover faster and avoid unnecessary hospital stays Why Medically Tailored Meals Matter Medically tailored meals are designed specifically to meet the nutritional necessities of individuals with chronic and complex illnesses These customized plans help boost immune response and improve outcomes when paired with traditional cure A Journal of the American Curative Association scrutiny evidenced that medically tailored meals lead to a reduction in hospital admissions and a drop in urgency room visits That translates into a possible cut in overall healthcare costs A separate analysis by the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Initiative estimated that nationwide use of medically tailored meals for eligible patients could prevent million hospitalizations and save billion in just the first year Chronically ill patients account for half of all national healthcare spending making this approach a powerful tool for both population fitness and fiscal sustainability How to Help Mama s Kitchen The Resiliency Fund will be used to continue delivering life-sustaining meals to critically ill individuals who might otherwise go without due to budget cuts The the greater part direct way to aid Mama s Kitchen is by contributing to this fund But there are other solutions to help Volunteer in the kitchen at the front desk or on delivery routes Fundraise with your district or workplace Spread the word about the importance of medically tailored meals To donate directly to the Resiliency Fund sign up as a volunteer or learn more about Mama s Kitchen s impact visit MamasKitchen org
