Volunteer Lasagna Love Chefs Gathered December 5th to Deliver Homemade Food to those in Need in Oak Cliff
Lasagna Love Spreads Nutrition and Love but Needs More Chefs to Help More in Need
Lasagna Love, an International viral grassroots movement that aims to positively impact communities by connecting neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery, prepares and delivers Lasagna Love meals so neighbors can be fed, but is in needs of more volunteer chefs from Oak Cliff area.
“We are here to provide meals for those in need in the Oak Cliff/Lancaster area, but Lasagna Love is in need of more chefs from this community, “ said Regional Leader, Michela D’Andrea. “We have chefs cooking from other communities and delivering here, but we have had requests for food here pending since April 2021 that we can’t deliver, that’s how dire this need is.”
Lasagna Love began somewhat by accident due to how negatively the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of many at the very basic needs level. Food insecurity among children skyrocketed quickly; an issue further compounded by shifting home and work priorities heavily shouldered by parents and heads of households
In an effort to alleviate some of the pressure, Rhiannon Menn, founder of Good to Mama, started delivering homemade lasagnas to families needing a bit of care. She saw an opportunity to be good to other parents during an unprecedented time of challenge. Her social posts offering help not only garnered meal requests, they resulted in other neighbors asking how to get involved and in May 2020 “Lasagna Love” was born. This movement of kindness today spans the entirety of the United States — currently reaching all 50 states in America, more than 1,000 cities including major metros: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Sacramento and San Diego — supported by more than 20,000 volunteers who are delivering, on average, 2,500 meals a week across the country. By October 1, 2021, Lasagna Love had served more than 500,000 people and is now feeding families in Canada and Australia as well.
Lasagna Love Promotes Positive Community Impact
Becoming a Lasagna Chef is easy. Anyone can volunteer to be matched with a family in need and the volunteer experience is very flexible. If a volunteer or family can deliver one lasagna or other hearty meal, it is a welcome gift. If they can do more, Lasagna Love can match them with several families needing support. Lasagna Love volunteers have graciously tailored deliveries–dietary restricted and allergy-friendly– to the needs of each family. In fact, previously supported Lasagna Love families have signed-on as volunteers and are, today, paying it forward to other families in their community. By serving those within our immediate community, Lasagna Love volunteers know to whom they are gifting a meal and recipients know from where their meal came. This model ensures that each participant experiences the impact of giving and receiving–a memory they won’t soon forget.
As a volunteer-run movement of kindness, Lasagna Love welcomes extra pairs of hands as well as donations from individuals and local businesses which go to supporting operations, or for groceries needed by volunteers who are able to prepare big batch deliveries but can’t afford the ingredients to make them. Local businesses that wish to collaborate with Lasagna Love will have their generosity highlighted through established promotional vehicles which include branded delivery letters. Lasagna Love “chefs” will place your family or business name on their delivery so the receiving family knows whose generosity made it possible.
To learn more about Lasagna Love, to donate, or to become a chef, visit www.lasagnalove.org Local contact is: Michela D’Andrea michelaislasagnalove@gmail.com.
