Dear Editor,

Thanks for a very interesting article concerning Mama’s Kitchen and Special Delivery [“Special Delivery denied Ryan White Funds” [GLT #806, 6/5/03]. I agree with Nicole: Is there really a need for two HIV meal delivery organizations? Seems to me that the Special Delivery director should stop throwing around sour grapes and accusations and join forces with Mama’s Kitchen!

Mama’s Kitchen has been a wonderful provider for so long here in San Diego. I give lots of money to them because they are probably the best-run, low-overhead non-profit agency that I have ever seen! There are many reasons they do so well: the people, the board of directors, the wonderful staff, and all the donors who continue to give unselfishly! They run the organization like it should be, professionally! I know several of their clients, and they always rave about the kind people from Mama’s who bring love and compassion and fantastic meals to them every day!

Enough of the pity party! You can’t argue with success! Perhaps if Special Delivery would run their operations a little more effectively, and efficiently, they would get more funding and grants! The director admitted that she sent in the grant request right at the deadline and that she has all of these audits regularly, which says to me that she obviously can’t run her program very well!

I also happen to know that the director of Special delivery also owns a restaurant called The Huddle. Could it be that she is all wound up because she stands to lose money for her restaurant? Sounds like a selfish conflict of interest to me!

Way to go MAMA! Keep up the great work!

Dave Head Jr.

San Diego