More than 250 people gathered at Bourbon Street on Aug. 21 for the Mama’s Kitchen 13th Annual Wine Tasting, which featured Australian wines compliments of Southern Wine & Spirits.

Organizers said the annual fund-raising event that paired wines with appetizers provided by top local restaurants and caterers raised more than $19,000 for the nonprofit organization.

Those who attended the wine tasting event had a great time and supported Mama’s ever-critical mission, according to Mama’s Kitchen executive director Alberto Cortés.

“The significant increases in both gasoline and food prices are having a financial impact on our ability to provide the life-giving and life-affirming nutrition we provide to the hundreds of men, women, and children that are served by Mama’s Kitchen,” Cortés said.

Guests participated in a silent auction as they mixed and mingled, while raising funds for Mama’s Kitchen, which prepares and delivers three meals a day for every day of the week to about 1,500 men, women, and children affected by AIDS or other critical illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease and kidney failure, in San Diego County.

The wine tasting event acted as a precursor for the upcoming return of Mama’s Pie In The Sky, a Thanksgiving bake sale.

“During the coming months San Diego County’s best pastry chefs, caterers and bakeries donate thousands of delicious pumpkin, pecan, apple and sugar-free apple pies to the effort, now in its fourth year,” Cortés said.

And according to organizers, “it is easy as pie” to get involved and help support the bake sale and make good things happen for everyone during Thanksgiving and throughout the year.

Mama’s Kitchen is currently looking for volunteers to begin to pre-sell holiday pies through businesses, schools and organizations all over San Diego County. Pies are only $20 each and the official kick-off is Oct. 15, and the final day for sales is Nov. 21, 2008.

The organization hopes to sell 5,000 pies that will be available for pick-up at many convenient locations the day before Thanksgiving

Restaurants, caterers and bakers are also encouraged to donate pies to the cause which they hope will raise $100,000 to directly fund the thousands of meals they deliver annually.

For more information or to get involved, call 619-233-6262 or visit www.mamaskitchen.org.