At its September 18th general meeting, the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund welcomed Mama’s Kitchen Chief Development Officer Jenna Novotny to update members on the impact of the $35,000 2023 funding grant. conveyed information.
The project provided Mama’s Kitchen’s medically tailored meal service (formerly home delivery meal service) to North County women and their dependent children battling the debilitating effects of a serious illness. The primary objective was to remove barriers customers face in obtaining the food they need to avoid malnutrition, increase medication compliance, reduce healthcare costs, and improve quality of life.
Mama’s Kitchen met its core project goal by providing 70,983 meals (19% more than estimated) to 258 seriously ill women and their children in North County. Of customers who responded to our annual survey, 95% reported that their overall health had stabilized or improved since being served Mama’s Kitchen meals. Additionally, 89% reported eating more nutritious food after receiving the service, and 84% reported fewer emergency rooms and hospitalizations, according to the news release.
Jenna Notovny calls out RSFWF members. (Elia Slan)
In May of this year, Mama’s Kitchen became the second organization in the nation to be certified as a medically tailored meal provider by the Food is Medicine Coalition, ensuring high-quality service for years to come. The launch of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal Initiative (CalAIM) will make medically tailored meals a covered service for many Medi-Cal patients, increasing the reach of this important service to more critically ill patients. It has become. Mama’s Kitchen also secured funding to launch a delivery meal pilot, expanding delivery to rural East County, tribal communities, and unincorporated areas of San Diego County.
“Support from the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund has allowed Mama’s Kitchen to grow its medically tailored meal services in ways that would not have been possible otherwise,” Novotny said in a news release. said. When you’re battling a serious diagnosis, you need the right foods to help your body fight. Mama’s Kitchen specifically tailored each dish to each client’s medical needs. And the generous women of Ranch Santa Fe Women’s Fund have ensured that no North County woman or child battling a serious illness is left without the proper nutrition they need to thrive. ”
The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund is a force that harnesses the power of collective giving to bring about positive change in the San Diego community, the news release states. Since its founding in 2004, RSFWF has donated more than $5.7 million to 165 local nonprofit programs, making a measurable difference in the lives of thousands of people. Beyond philanthropy, Women’s Fund is a platform for women to connect, engage and learn about important issues in their communities. Members can attend events, network with other women, and contribute to the Foundation’s mission.
The next general meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13th at 11:30 a.m. at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. Featured speakers include Bob Simmons, American film producer, entrepreneur, and founder and chairman of STX Entertainment. We will talk about the behind-the-scenes aspects of film production.
This group will also receive updates on the impact of their grants from ElderHelp. ElderHelp is a recipient of RSFWF’s Gail Gillies Award and attracted the most funding support from members in the last grant cycle. The Women’s Fund will provide funds to raise $25 gift cards to Walmart or Target to support Elder Help’s Holiday Angels event.
For more information on how to become a member and participate in this event, please visit www.rsfwomensfund.org or email admin@rsfwomensfund.org.
