This summer’s dramatic increase in fuel prices, the continuing rise in the cost of food, and this fall’s national financial crisis have all combined to make fund-raising an enormous challenge. Mama’s Kitchen, one of San Diego’s best-known non-profit organizations, is continuing its fourth annual Mama’s Pie in the Sky bake sale through Friday, Nov. 21. Agency leaders are confident the people of San Diego County will continue to support the organization’s mission of feeding those living with HIV/AIDS and other life threatening illnesses.

“We’ve never turned down anyone needing our service,” said Alberto Cortes, executive director of Mama’s Kitchen. “But with the decrease in donations of cash, canned goods, and non-perishable food items, we have had to make strategic changes to keep nourishing those who need it most.”

Mama’s Pie in the Sky fund-raiser launched the beginning of October as a way for the community to order fresh-baked pies in time for Thanksgiving Day, while at the same time raising cash for the clients of Mama’s Kitchen. San Diego’s top bakers, caterers, and chefs come together and bake handcrafted apple, pecan, pumpkin, and sugar-free apple pies.

“This is an easy, fun and delicious way for everyone to help others in need during the holiday season,” explained Mama’s Kitchen executive chef, Anne R. Garger. “You buy a pie that will be freshly baked the week of Thanksgiving. Our volunteers deliver it to a convenient location right in your neighborhood so you can pick it up the day before Thanksgiving. For only $20, you can’t beat it.”

Unique fund-raising efforts, such as Mama’s Pie in the Sky, have been combined with cost-cutting measures, according to Cortes. “Mamas Kitchen altered its delivery schedule from five deliveries per week to three to ease the burden of gas costs for its all-volunteer meal delivery corps,” he said.

To counter skyrocketing food costs – almost 40 percent since 2006 – Garger re-evaluated the purchasing patterns and menu options, and created a solution that will help keep expenses under control.

The agency has seen a startling decrease in donations across the board, this year, and believes this is a result of the economy.

“If this trend continues, we’ll have to make serious changes that could have a major impact on our current and future clients. The support of the community in times like these is more critical than ever. Simply buying one pie for Thanksgiving can help feed someone for a week, and what an incredible difference this could make in the life of a critically ill person who might live in your own neighborhood,” Cortes said.

Mama’s Kitchen provides three meals a day, every day of the week to more than 300 men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS or other critical illnesses in San Diego County, from Oceanside and San Marcos in the north, to Alpine in the east, south to Otay Mesa and Chula Vista, and throughout central San Diego and the beach communities.

Local restaurants, bakers and community groups ranging from Wells Fargo, Pepsi, Sycuan Resort & Casino and SeaWorld have pitched in to provide pies, supplies and delivery locations. One-hundred percent of the $20 purchase price goes back to Mama’s Kitchen; $15 of the purchase price is tax-deductible. Additionally, the organization has enhanced its online ordering system in the hope that more San Diegans will participate in this fall fund-raising event. The last day to purchase a pie is Friday, Nov. 21. Pies are distributed on Wednesday, Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving.

To link to Mama’s Kitchen Web site and place your pie order, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1090.