Those who bought pies as part of Mama’s Kitchen’s second annual “Mama’s Pie in the Sky” bake sale fund-raiser will pick up their pies on Wednesday, Nov. 22. But for those who still wish to contribute to the nonprofit meal-delivery service’s bake sale, additional pies will be available for purchase on Nov. 22.

Locations to pick up last-minute pies include Mama’s Kitchen, Wells Fargo of Sorrento Mesa and Grossmont Center. Additional locations are to be posted this week on the nonprofit’s Web site, www.mamaskitchen.org. Available pies this year are apple, sugar-free apple, pumpkin and pecan, but be forewarned: A limited amount of pies will be available and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Local chefs, bakers and caterers including The French Gourmet and Sycuan Resort & Casino donated an assortment of pies to what was dubbed “the largest bake sale in San Diego County’s history, and maybe even the West Coast.”

Denise Scatena of Mama’s Kitchen said the idea of the sale originated in Boston. “They were really open with their information and supportive of us starting on the West Coast,” she said.

Pies were sold to the public from Oct. 18 to Nov. 15 for $20 apiece, and the sale of each pie yields the delivery of almost half a week’s worth of nutritious meals for one client of Mama’s Kitchen, which provides nutritious meals daily to individuals with HIV/AIDS and other diseases throughout the county.

The nonprofit organization hopes to generate $100,000 (5,000 pies) from the event this year and project they will have no problem meeting their set quota.

The bake sale was part of Mama’s Kitchen’s efforts to compensate for the disparity in federal and local funding between fiscal year 2006 and years prior. Mama’s Kitchen’s executive director, Alberto Cortés, has seen a precipitous decrease in Ryan White Care Act funding, a piece of legislation designed to provide essential resources for Americans with HIV/AIDS. Cortés says he has every reason to believe that these cuts will continue, citing the 8-percent decrease in federal funding, from 25 percent to 17 percent, in the last three years. He credits this “erosion in funding” as the impetus behind doing the “Pie in the Sky” fund-raiser.

Indeed, the need for community contribution has never been more poignant for Mama’s Kitchen, especially since the board of directors expanded its services to include individuals under the age of 60 who have critical illnesses, not just those living with HIV/AIDS.

Mama’s Kitchen, in operation since 1990, delivers three meals a day, five days a week to approximately 300 critically ill men, women and children, and has recruited echelons of volunteers to pick up and deliver pies to more than 30 locations in and around San Diego County.

Mama’s Kitchen is also preparing for their “Tree of Life” event in commemoration of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. The fund-raiser, held in Village Hillcrest, will feature a Christmas tree adorned with purchasable ornaments, two for $25 or one for $15. “Donors can customize the ornaments with a message of their choice. Volunteers will continue to place ornaments on the tree throughout the month of December,” Scatena said. The event itself will be free and open to the public.

If you haven’t already secured your delicious pie(s) for pick-up on Nov. 22 or don’t arrive at the designated locations for a last-minute purchase, there’s always next year’s “Pie in the Sky” fund-raiser, which is set to begin in mid-October.

Those who purchased pies can pick up their pies at Wells Fargo Banks and other participating locations.

Call (619) 233-6262 or visit www.mamas kitchen.org for more information.