Mama’s Kitchen’s Annual Thanksgiving Bake Sale Returns Oct. 12

Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale returns this fall, bringing back deliciously festive treats to San Diego while helping make a difference in the lives of neighbors living with critical illnesses. Beginning Oct. 12, San Diegans can order their favorite Thanksgiving pies online, with proceeds supporting Mama’s Kitchen’s medically tailored meal program.

For 22 years, the team at Mama’s Kitchen has brought together local bakeries, restaurants, and caterers who donate thousands of pies through its Thanksgiving bake sale, Mama’s Pies, now a San Diego holiday tradition. In 2025, the fundraiser raised more than $190,000 and helped provide more than 50,000 medically tailored meals to homebound individuals vulnerable to malnutrition in San Diego County. This year, every pie purchased will help provide 10 meals to a critically ill San Diegan, bringing nourishment and support to community members who need it most during the holiday season.

That community support is especially important as government funding for essential health and social services remains uncertain. Mama’s Kitchen is the only Food is Medicine Coalition accredited organization that provides free, home-delivered medically tailored meals to community members experiencing malnutrition due to critical illnesses, including cancer, HIV, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, and type 2 diabetes.

“San Diego’s cost of living continues to increase, leaving many individuals unsure of where their next meal will come from,” says Eva Matthews, CEO, Mama’s Kitchen. “Our no-cost medically tailored meal deliveries are more important than ever to community members living with critical illnesses, particularly during a time when funding is uncertain. Philanthropic support will be crucial in helping organizations like Mama’s Kitchen sustain these vital services and ensure our clients continue to receive the nutrition they need. Every pie purchased through Mama’s Pies is a sweet way to make a meaningful difference and help ensure that nobody loses access to our services.”

How to buy a pie from Mama’s Kitchen this Thanksgiving

From Monday, Oct. 12 to Friday, Nov. 20, volunteer pie sellers will offer pies for $35 each to family, friends, and colleagues through mamaspies.org. This year’s pie options include pumpkin, pecan, apple, Dutch apple, and a “mystery” flavor pie. During the week of Thanksgiving, the pies will be freshly baked, and pie buyers will pick up their orders on Wednesday, Nov. 25, just in time for Thanksgiving at one of Mama’s Kitchen’s 10 pickup locations throughout San Diego County, from Chula Vista to Carlsbad. Find pickup locations at mamaspies.org/pickup-locations/.

This year’s bake sale will feature San Diego-based culinary professionals donating their time and talent to baking delicious pies for the holiday. Confirmed culinary partners for this year include:

• Behind the Scenes Catering (Miramar area)
• Sodexo Live! @ The San Diego Convention Center (Downtown San Diego)
• Bahia Resort Hotel (Mission Beach)
• Sugar & Scribe (La Jolla)
• Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego (Downtown San Diego)
• The Wild Thyme Company Catering and Events (Miramar area)
• Hyatt Regency La Jolla (La Jolla)
• Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa (Pacific Beach)
• Mielimon Bakery (Rancho Bernardo)
• Sycuan Casino Resort (Alpine)
• The Muffin Mam (San Carlos/Lake Murray)

Those interested in becoming a pie supplier or baker for Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale can contact pie@mamaskitchen.org. To become a pie seller, please visit mamaspies.org/get-involved/.

Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale would not be possible without the support of generous sponsors including Sycuan Casino Resort, Behind the Scenes Catering, and more. For businesses looking for a meaningful way to show appreciation this Thanksgiving, Mama’s Pies offers corporate gifting opportunities that support critically ill San Diegans, demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility, and provide a $20 tax-deductible contribution with every pie purchased. To support Mama’s Pies with a corporate gift or learn more about the organization, please visit mamaspies.org.

ABOUT MAMA’S KITCHEN

Mama’s Kitchen has provided nutrition to San Diegans living with critical illnesses at risk of malnutrition for more than 35 years. The first organization on the West Coast to earn Food Is Medicine Coalition Accreditation, Mama’s Kitchen is San Diego County’s only provider of free, home-delivered medically tailored meals for people living with cancer, HIV, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, and type 2 diabetes. Since its founding in 1990, the organization has delivered more than 14 million meals to clients and their children throughout San Diego County. Learn more and donate at www.mamaskitchen.org. Connect with Mama’s Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.