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Title: L2007.04 The Mama's Kitchen Papers
Dates: 1990 - 2007
Collection Number: L2007.04
Creator/Collector:
Laurie Leonard
Mama's Kitchen
Extent: 0.75 linear feet
Repository:
Lambda Archives of San Diego
San Diego, California 92116
Abstract: This collection contains materials from Mama’s Kitchen, a volunteer-based meal delivery service for people with HIV and AIDS
that was founded in 1990 by Laurie Leonard.
Language of Material: English
Open for research
L2007.04 The Mama's Kitchen Papers. Lambda Archives of San Diego
Biography/Administrative History
From the Mama’s Kitchen Website:
Mama’s Kitchen was established in 1990 by Laurie Leonard a San Diego caregiver who enlisted volunteers to help prepare and
deliver free meals to a few neighbors who were sick with AIDS and unable to get to the grocery store or cook food. During
a time when little was known about this vicious disease, a caring community came together to ensure that those suffering were
given a chance at life and were able to receive one of their most basic rights – the right to nutritious food. Since then,
Mama’s Kitchen has grown into a service that provides three meals a day, free of charge, to our neighbors across San Diego
County who are struggling with HIV/AIDS or cancer, and their dependent children. Since [their] beginning, Mama’s Kitchen has
continuously evolved, responding to the needs of our community. In 2004, [they] opened a food pantry for low-income HIV positive
residents. In 2006, Mama’s Kitchen expanded its mission to include meal delivery to those affected by cancer. Recently, [their]
organization has hosted nutrition education workshops, provided emergency food assistance, and offered medical nutrition therapy
to the community. Through [their] services, [they] were able to provide food, compassion and hope to over 1,300 people annually.
In [their] 27 years of service, Mama’s Kitchen has delivered over eight million meals. [They] have never turned away a client
eligible for our services – and [they] are determined that [they] never will.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains materials from Mama’s Kitchen, a volunteer-based meal delivery service for people with HIV and AIDS
that was founded in 1990 by Laurie Leonard. This collection contains founding documents, newsletters, and photographs.
HIV
AIDS services
AIDS care organizations
San Diego
Newsletters
Founding documents
Photographs