OCTOBER 27, 2024 — 2:11 PM

At the General Meeting on Sept. 18, the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund welcomed Jenna Novotny, chief development officer of Mama’s Kitchen, who updated members on the impact of the $35,000 in funds granted in 2023.

The project provided Mama’s Kitchen’s Medically Tailored Meal Service (formerly the Home-Delivered Meal Service) to North County women battling the debilitating effects of critical illness and their dependent children. The primary objectives were to remove barriers clients face in accessing the food they need to avoid malnutrition, increase medication adherence, lower healthcare costs, and improve the quality of life.

Mama’s Kitchen exceeded its core project goals by providing 70,983 meals (19% more than estimated) to 258 critically ill North County women and their children. Of the clients who responded to their annual survey, 95% reported that their general health has stabilized or improved since receiving meals from Mama’s Kitchen. Additionally, 89% reported eating more nutritious food since receiving the service, and 84% reported having fewer emergency room/hospitalizations, according to a news release.

This past May, Mama’s Kitchen became the second organization in the nation to be accredited as a Medically Tailored Meal provider by the Food is Medicine Coalition, ensuring high-quality service for years to come. With the launch of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal initiative (CalAIM), medically tailored meals are now a covered service for many Medi-Cal patients, allowing this vital service to reach more critically ill individuals. Mama’s Kitchen has also secured funding to launch a shipped meal pilot, expanding delivery to rural East County, tribal communities, and unincorporated areas of San Diego County.

Novotny stated in the news release, “Support from the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund has allowed Mama’s Kitchen to grow our Medically Tailored Meal Service in a way that otherwise would not have been possible. When you are battling a critical diagnosis, you need the right food to help your body fight! Mama’s Kitchen tailored each dish specifically for each client’s medical needs. And the generous women of the Ranch Santa Fe Women’s Fund have made sure that no woman or child in North County battling a critical illness goes without the proper nutrition they need to thrive.”

The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund is a force for positive change in the San Diego community, harnessing the power of collective giving, the news release stated. Since its establishment in 2004, the RSFWF has donated over $5.7 million to 165 local nonprofit programs, making a tangible difference in the lives of many. Beyond its philanthropic work, the Women’s Fund is a platform for women to connect, engage, and learn about important community issues. Members can attend events, network with other women, and contribute to the Fund’s mission.

The next General Membership meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 11:30 a.m. at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. The featured speaker will be Bob Simonds, an American film producer, entrepreneur, and the founder & chairman of STX Entertainment. He will be speaking about the ins and outs of movie production.

The group will also have a grant impact update from ElderHelp. ElderHelp was the RSFWF’s Gayle Gillies award winner, garnering the most membership support for funding in the last grant cycle. The Women’s Fund will provide funds to procure $25 gift cards to Walmart or Target to support ElderHelp’s Holiday Angel event.

For more information about becoming a member and attending this event, visit www.rsfwomensfund.org or email admin@rsfwomensfund.org.