Mama Jean
Jessica
Drench [photo] is a long-term client of the Massachusetts
SBDC - Boston Region.
In April 2023, Jessica started Mama Jean, a business that caters to special diets while offering nourishment and joy. Mama Jean collaborates with local businesses, farms and organizations to ensure the highest quality ingredients, to support the regional economy, to be attentive to the needs of their neighbors and to build community around the love of good food.
Mama Jean has successfully launched Community Meal Prep Club (CMPC), a companion 501c3 nonprofit organization. CMPC was created to help members of the community learn how to prepare healthy meals for their own homes while also serving a greater purpose: sharing meals with neighbors in need. By partnering with The Food Drive, a local food rescue nonprofit, CMPC saw an opportunity to turn a cooking class into a meaningful act of community care.
From 2023-2025, Mama Jean led 14 Community Meal Prep Clubs to
make 1,530 delicious, seasonal meals for donation to The Food Drive.
Along the way, participants enjoyed cooking for neighbors,
connecting with one another, and learning new, practical recipes
they could bring home.
"I am so grateful for the encouragement and responsiveness of my SBDC advisor. It is incredible that this resource of wisdom and guidance exists at no cost to Massachusetts small business owners. I'm always spreading the word and feel so fortunate to have been connected early on in my business's trajectory." ~ Jessica Drench, Owner
