Mama’s Day 2025: A Tasty Way to Give Back

By Cesar A Reyes

The 34th Annual Mama’s Day returns to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on Friday, June 6: a day to sample some of the city’s finest food and drinks and support the work Mama’s Kitchen does delivering medically tailored meals to San Diegans living with serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and chronic kidney disease. 

With potential cuts to federal funding Mama’s Kitchen is in need now more than ever of community support. Mama’s Kitchen began in 1990 as a grassroots effort to deliver meals to neighbors living with HIV/AIDS. Since then, it has grown into the largest nonprofit provider of medically tailored meals in San Diego County. In 2024, the organization celebrated its 12 millionth meal delivered and became just the second group nationwide to receive accreditation from the Food is Medicine Coalition. Tickets for Mama’s Day are available online. General admission is $190, with VIP access at $290. VIP ticket holders will enjoy a private cocktail reception beginning at 5:30pm, with general admission opening at 6:30pm. 

We had the pleasure of chatting with Mama’s Kitchen CEO, Eva Matthews to talk about the upcoming Mama’s Day in June. This year, Mama’s Kitchen will also have a table featuring their own food. We wanted to chat with head Chef Jonathan Moreno about what Mama’s Kitchen will be show casing at the event.

Eva Matthews CEO Mama’s Kitchen

Please introduce yourself (and tell us a bit about you)

My name is Eva Matthews, and I am the CEO of Mama’s Kitchen. For the past fifteen years I’ve lived in San Diego and for over 25 years I’ve been working in community health. I started my career in health research in Connecticut, and then moved west to get my Masters in Public Health at the University of Arizona. I wanted to help people make healthy choices, and I did that through my work in research for the decade that followed. After I moved to San Diego with my daughter and husband, I fell in love with this community. I knew I needed to shift my career into service of my neighbors, and I began working for a large community clinic system. From there it was a very logical next step to focus my efforts on something I’m passionate about at the office and at home – delicious healthy food! I love to cook and to me a shared meal is the truest way to offer caring, hope, and joy.

How did you become involve with Mama’s Kitchen? 

I’ve known of Mama’s Kitchen’s tremendous impact in San Diego since 2014, when I began working for one of our community clinic referral partners. It wasn’t until the fall of 2023 that Mama’s Kitchen’s mission hit home for me personally. My mother, who was living 3,000 miles away had been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and she was put on a very restrictive diet. She was unable to manage that on her own, but there was no organization like Mama’s Kitchen nearby. After a visit to her, I came back to San Diego carrying my family’s worry for my mom’s health. It was just about a week later that I got a call asking me to consider interviewing for the position of CEO at Mama’s Kitchen. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity! Now I’ve seen how Mama’s Kitchen changes lives and changes families from the inside, and it is a beautiful place to be.

What’s the importance of supporting an organization like Mama’s Kitchen?

Everyone has been touched by critical illnesses like cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, or HIV in one way or another. We know how scary it can be to manage these health issues, and to get the proper nutrition that supports recovery and wellness. As San Diego’s largest nonprofit provider of home delivered meals, and San Diego’s only Food is Medicine Coalition Accredited Provider of medically tailored meals, Mama’s Kitchen is serving over 900,000 medically tailored meals to over 3,000 clients every year. Without our services, our clients would be at risk of malnutrition due to their illness. Now more than ever, as we face the uncertainty of federal funding, which accounts for upwards of 42% of our budget. Supporting Mama’s Kitchen puts medically tailored meals in the hands of our community members who need us most.  

What can folks look forward too at this year’s Mama’s Day?

This year’s Mama’s Day will be back at the beautiful Hilton San Diego Bayfront on June 6th, starting at 5:30pm for our VIP guests, and 6:30 for our general admission guests. We expect that over 300 community members will be joining us to sample delicious tastes from some of San Diego’s favorite culinarians and restaurants. We will have live music and entertainment, and

we have a fantastic selection of incredible opportunity drawing packages and other special prizes. 

How can folks get involved (with the organization and also how to attend Mama’s Day)?

The heart of Mama’s Kitchen is our volunteers, and we have many opportunities to be a part of our mission. Whether it is through driving a delivery route and making a client’s day, plating meals alongside our team, packaging snacks and fresh fruit, or taking calls at our front desk, every volunteer makes a difference. Come to Mama’s Day and tell a friend to join! Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased on our website (https://mamaskitchen.org/). Supporters can also make a one-time or recurring donation, or even a planned gift at our website. Every dollar donated supports the over 17,000 scratch made medically tailored meals we cook and deliver each week!

The WORD is Steadfast

Jonathan Moreno, Chef, Mama’s Kitchen

Mama’s Kitchen will have a table this year at Mama’s Day.

Please introduce yourself.

I’m Jonathan Moreno, and I am the Chef at Mama’s Kitchen.

How did you get involved with Mama’s Kitchen?

During COVID, I was Chef at a restaurant here in San Diego. My position, like many others in San Diego, ended because of the pandemic. I was looking for a new role, and I saw that Mama’s Kitchen had an opening for Dishwasher. The mission of the organization spoke to me and I joined the team. I am now the Chef at Mama’s Kitchen and lead our culinary staff. 

Why is supporting Mama’s Kitchen important to you?

Mama’s Kitchen is important to me because I enjoy being a part of a team that cares so much about making nutritious, medically tailored meals for our clients.

What are you preparing for Mama’s Day this year?

 We will be making a ceviche that highlights the rich, diverse culture of San Diego and features fresh, locally sourced fish.

Where can readers find/follow you online

Readers can follow me on Mama’s Kitchen’s socials!

Instagram @mamaskitchensd , Facebook Mamas Kitchen

The WORD is Nourishment