In old-fashioned fund-raising style, Mama’s Kitchen is having a bake sale.

However, this is not any ordinary bake sale. Mama’s Kitchen hopes to raise $60,000 from selling Thanksgiving pies during its first-ever “Pie in the Sky” event.

“This is a first-time event for us. We are selling pies between now and the end of this week, and they will be distributed on Wednesday, Nov. 23. It’s a fund-raising event to benefit Mama’s Kitchen,” said Albert Cortez, Mama’s Kitchen’s executive director.

Mama’s Kitchen is selling pumpkin, pecan, apple and sugar-free apple pies for $20 each. Orders are being accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, and the pies are being distributed the day before Thanksgiving at about 45 locations throughout the county.

“They can order them by phone calling Mama’s Kitchen or 24 hours a day by going to our Web site.” Cortez said. “They can also buy from a number of sales teams in addition to calling the kitchen.”

There are about 25 businesses, schools and organizations all over San Diego County working as sales teams. As an example, Cortez mentioned the Caliph on Fifth Ave., which had turned the sale into a game at the local bar.

“Every one of their patrons who buys a pie is entered into a raffle for a $500 bar tab,” Cortez said.

“I just wanted to up the antae and get people excited about buying the pies. It’s my commitment as a bar owner to give back to the community,” said Sherman Mendoza, Caliph’s owner. “We have sold already $2,260 worth of pies. We have a goal of $3,000 for our bar … we’re committed to selling 150 pies.”

These will not be your ordinary pies, either, because San Diego‘s top pastry chefs, caterers and bakeries will be baking them. Cortez said he has 15 to 20 different bakeries supplying the pastries, but says the majority of the anticipated 3,000 pies are coming from two sources.

“The two larger supporters are Sycuan Casino, which is baking 500 pies, and Sea World, whose chefs are doing 1,000 pies,” he said.

Pie in the Sky was initiated to help make up for the recent losses in government funding, which total $115,000 this year.

“There was a need to find alternative sources for funding as our government support has decreased,” Cortez said. “We anticipate that trend to continue, so we are looking at events like Pie in the Sky to help replace that support.”

Net proceeds from pie sales will go directly to fund 400,000 home-delivered, hot and nutritious meals to families in San Diego affected by HIV/AIDS.

For more information about Mama’s Kitchen or Pie in the Sky, call (619) 233-6262 or visit www.mamaskitchen.org. Cortez is also seeking volunteers to assist Mama’s Kitchen distribute the pies on Nov. 23.