By Tom Ceniglio.
My grandfather was born in Firenze, Italy. He loved to eat and I take after him. So, logically, I love lasagna. I had not heard about Lasagna Love until I interviewed our Middlesex regional manager, Kari Hunter and she provided this fact sheet.
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Lasagna Love was started at the beginning of the pandemic by one mom (Rhiannon Menn) looking for a way to help others in her community. She and her daughter began making and delivering meals to families residing in her neighborhood who were struggling with pandemic woes. Some were contending with income or job loss as well as general fear or being overwhelmed. Menn realized what was needed most was comfort and kindness and started preparing extra meals and offering to deliver them to neighbors’ doorsteps (contactless) to provide a small break from everyday worries while assuring them that someone cared enough and was looking out for them. This small act of kindness served as an easily replicated approach that crossed all language and cultural barriers. Menn’s kind act quickly moved to action from several others within her social orbit, and in doing so, initiated a viral movement that gained exponential traction across the nation. Americans were looking for a safe and thoughtful way to stay connected at a time when we were disconnected–from everyone and everything. The non-profit’s ultimate vision is to weave kindness back into the very fabric of our everyday lives. Even as we emerge from the pandemic, acts of kindness will forever be a welcome sight.
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(TC) What does Lasagna Love do?
(KH) Our mission is simple: feed families, spread kindness, and strengthen communities. Our efforts not only help address food insecurity, but also provide a simple act of welcome comfort and kindness during a time full of uncertainty and stress.
(TC) How does it work?
(KH) Our nationwide community of volunteer Lasagna Chefs (LCs) prepare lasagnas each week and deliver them free of charge and contact-free to the doorstep of local families who have requested a meal. Families can privately sign up to receive a meal once every 28 days (no questions asked!), a process which eliminates any stigmas or barriers associated with asking for help. Once a family is matched with an LC, the volunteer coordinates preparation using the contact information provided (as some families have dietary requests or restrictions) and schedules a day and time for contactless delivery of the meal.
(KH) Our nationwide community of volunteer Lasagna Chefs (LCs) prepare lasagnas each week and deliver them free of charge and contact-free to the doorstep of local families who have requested a meal. Families can privately sign up to receive a meal once every 28 days (no questions asked!), a process which eliminates any stigmas or barriers associated with asking for help. Once a family is matched with an LC, the volunteer coordinates preparation using the contact information provided (as some families have dietary requests or restrictions) and schedules a day and time for contactless delivery of the meal.
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(TC) How many meals has Lasagna Love delivered?
(KH) Lasagna Love currently delivers, on average, 2,500 – 3,500 lasagnas each week across America. To date, the non-profit has impacted more than 500,000 lives through the delivery of more than 105,000 meals –in just one year.
(KH) Lasagna Love currently delivers, on average, 2,500 – 3,500 lasagnas each week across America. To date, the non-profit has impacted more than 500,000 lives through the delivery of more than 105,000 meals –in just one year.
One local volunteer Lasagna Chef Victoria Lafo, resident of East Haddam, said that she is “so proud to be a part of something important in our communities.”
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Do you need a home cooked lasagna for your family? Do you know a family in need locally or in another state? visit www.lasagnalove.org
Do you want to volunteer to cook or deliver lasagnas? visit www.lasagnalove.org
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Do you want to donate items to Lasagna Love?
One way is to name this charity as your choice for Amazon:Â Select Lasagna Love Inc (Williamstown MA) as your charity when shopping on AmazonSmile and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the eligible purchase price.
One way is to name this charity as your choice for Amazon:Â Select Lasagna Love Inc (Williamstown MA) as your charity when shopping on AmazonSmile and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the eligible purchase price.
Another way is to Purchase items from their Amazon Wish List; all items will be distributed to volunteer Lasagna Chefs for use in their lasagna preparations.
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Stats for the CT region
Blue bulbs are requests. Purple bulbs are volunteers.
In 2021, 545 families in the region received lasagnas from our volunteers
As of today, there are 109 active volunteers in the CT region.
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We feed families. We spread kindness. We strengthen communities.
Anyone can request a lasagna for any reason, no questions asked.
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Find out more about Lasagna Love:
website https://www.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearelasagnalove/
Photos courtesy of Kari Hunter and Victoria Lafo
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