Lasagna Love reaches out to spread love, joy, hope
Lasagna Love, a nationwide grassroots movement providing homemade pasta meals to those in need, celebrated National Lasagna Day by providing dinner July 28 at the Shepherd's Office on North Bedford Street in Georgetown. The faith-based Shepherd's Office provides outreach programs, food, meals and other necessities to the homeless, hungry and lonely.
Local volunteers cooked trays of lasagna and dropped them off at Shepherd's Office as volunteers prepared meals to be distributed to nearly 70 people.
Lasagna Love volunteer Jeannie Rial of Lewes was first to arrive with two containers of lasagna. She and her children, Max, Julia and Ana, have assisted Shepherd’s Office in the past.
“You don't have to give a reason for making a request,” Rial said. “There is zero judgement.”
In addition, she said, there is no contact. Offers to make lasagna or request a meal are made through the website. Once a request is matched with a volunteer, a text is sent concerning delivery time and meals are dropped off at the front door.
To volunteer, go to lasagnalove.org/volunteer, and to receive a meal or make a request for another person, go to lasagnalove.org/request. Donations can also be made through the website.
More than 75,000 meals have been provided so far this year in the state. “Although we are still getting the word out, this is really starting to take off in Sussex County. It demonstrates pure kindness and love, and that's why we are involved,” Rial said. “We have so many people who are volunteering to make lasagna.”
Last month, the group served lasagna to residents and staff at the Lighthouse for Broken Wings shelter.
The program was started by Rhiannon Menn in an effort to support mothers who were struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program now provides 3,500 meals a week and has more than 20,000 volunteers in all 50 states.
Lasagna Love is a nonprofit organization with the mission to “not only help address the incredible rise in food insecurity among families, but also to provide a simple act of love and kindness during this time full of uncertainty and stress.”
Go to lasagnalove.org for details.
