Pie in the Sky For Mama’s Kitchen

We were recently invited to tour Mama’s Kitchen and learn more about their Pie in the Sky fundraiser. Mama’s Kitchen is a nonprofit organization that delivers healthy meals at no cost to San Diego men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS or cancer. The ninth annual Mama’s Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving Bake Sale runs through Sunday, November 24th.

Fresh pumpkin and traditional apple pies are available for just $20 each. Pecan pies and the newly added Dutch Apple flavor (my two favorites) are also available for $25 each. We got to sample all four pie flavors and they were all delicious. I just especially loved the dutch apple and the pecan pies.

I wanted to get more involved so I am going to try to help sell some pies! You know you are going to buy a pie for Thanksgiving anyway, so buy one of Mama’s pies and you will be helping out others too! It is super simple: just place your order online and pick it up at one of the 20 participating Wells Fargo locations in San Diego the day before Thanksgiving.

From Mama’s Kitchen

All proceeds from this year’s pie sales directly fund thousands of free, hot and nutritious Mama’s Kitchen meals, which help ensure that no one living with AIDS or cancer will go hungry in the San Diego community. Hundreds of volunteers will take to the streets to sell the pies to friends, family and co-workers. Many of San Diego’s top pastry chefs, caterers, and bakeries such as Sycuan, Sea World, Behind the Scenes Catering and more will donate traditional Thanksgiving pies for this annual Mama’s Pie in the Sky Bake Sale. Pies will be available for pick-up the day before Thanksgiving on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at more than 20 convenient Wells Fargo Bank branch locations throughout San Diego County and at Mama’s Kitchen in City Heights.

“Mama’s Pie in the Sky is one of our most successful fundraisers every year because of the dedication of our tireless volunteers and community participants,” said Alberto Cortés, executive director, Mama’s Kitchen. “Their dedication and the continued strategic involvement of our great sponsors such as Wells Fargo, make it possible for local men, women, and children to get the nutrition they need to continue to fight against the diseases they are facing. Nothing means love more than a warm meal, and that’s what we hope to bring them, especially over the holidays.”

Pie sellers and volunteers are encouraged to attend the Pie Kick-Off Party on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This family-friendly event will be held at their headquarters at 3960 Home Avenue in City Heights.

This year, the popular “Love-A-Client” Pie raffle returns. Donate a pie to  Mama’s Kitchen’s clients and automatically enter to win an iPad. The more client pies purchased, the more chances to win. Individuals and sales teams will also have opportunities to win prizes from generous sponsors.

Mama’s Kitchen hopes to sell more than 5,000 pies during the six-week sales period, which will raise $110,000 and fund nearly 37,000 meals. Each pie sold provides more than six home-delivered meals to a neighbor struggling with a critical illness such as cancer or HIV/AIDS. Individuals and teams are encouraged to volunteer to sell pies for a chance to win prizes from generous sponsors. Pie sellers are also encouraged to use their social media networks to promote their participation in Mama’s Pie in the Sky, as all sales funnel through their sales website. For information on how to volunteer to sell pies, visit www.mamaspies.org. The official hashtag for the campaign is #mamaspies2013.

This year’s sponsors for Mama’s Pie in the Sky fundraiser include Wells Fargo, The Original Pancake House, Sycuan Casino, Energy Radio 103.7 FM, Gay San Diego, KyXy Radio 96.5 FM, San Diego PIX, San Diego Uptown News, San Diego Magazine and SDGLN.com.

Currently, 22 bakers from throughout San Diego County have come forward to bake and donate pies to the effort. These include:

Alchemy San Diego (South Park)
Andaz San Diego (Downtown San Diego)
Authentic Flavors Fine Catering and Events (Miramar)
Behind the Scenes Catering & Events (Miramar)
Brothers Signature Catering (Downtown)
Centerplate (Mission Valley and Downtown San Diego)
Cork and Platter (San Diego)
Elizabethan Desserts (Encinitas)
Great Maple (Hillcrest)
Grove Pastry Shop (Lemon Grove)
Hyatt Regency La Jolla (La Jolla)
Manchester Grand Hyatt (Downtown)
Just Call Us Catering (Clairemont)
Loews Hotel Coronado Bay (Coronado)
Sea and Smoke (Del Mar)
Scottish Pastries (El Cajon)
Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens (Escondido)
Solace and the Moonlight Lounge (Encinitas)
Sweet Cheeks Baking Company (Mission Valley)
Sycuan Casino (East County San Diego)
Twiggs Bakery & Coffeehouse (University Heights/Normal Heights)
Urban Solace (North Park)

How cool is that?! Your pie could be from one of your favorite restaurants. And.. when you get your pie the location that donated the pie will be listed. So fun!

Check out this funny video about Pie in the Sky with Sam “The Cooking Guy” and Elizabeth Harris from Elizabethan Desserts

Supporting local businesses. All opinions are my own.