Mama’s Kitchen on Tuesday unveiled a pair of programs designed to help San Diego residents with diabetes and heart problems.
As part of a pilot program run by the California Food is Medicine Coalition and the state’s Department of Health Care Services, the San Diego nonprofit now offers food service to Medi-Cal members who have suffered heart failure or are diabetes patients.
Mama’s Kitchen is one of six nonprofits in California offering food and nutrition services to heart failure victims and diabetes patients under the pilot program.
“Mama’s Kitchen’s efforts are unfailing and continue to evolve with the purpose of moving forward with the ever-changing health needs of the communities we serve,” said Executive Director Alberto Cortes. “With the addition of these new programs, our organization will be able to make an even bigger impact in our community to reduce hospitalizations and improve overall health care.”
The nutrition service organization works to combat hunger among San Diego area residents who have critical illnesses like HIV and cancer. Since its founding in 1990, Mama’s Kitchen has provided meal delivery, pantry and nutrition education services for more than 1,200 residents annually in San Diego County according to the organization. In fiscal year 2018, Mama’s Kitchen served a combined 318,969 meals to 601 area residents with HIV, AIDS or cancer.
Mama’s Kitchen has already served 15 residents with congestive heart failure since entering the program in May. In addition, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals has provided a grant to Mama’s Kitchen to launch a nutrition service program for diabetes patients. The two organizations will partner to launch the program in December.
— City News Service
