Record Number of Geographies Served, Meals Delivered and Volunteers Onboarded; Establishes Employer Matching and Opens Merchandise Shop
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (12.7.20) – Lasagna Love, a national grassroots movement of kindness and support that connects neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery, has earned official 501(c) 3 (non-profit) status. The movement was founded by Rhiannon Menn who began delivering homemade lasagnas to families in her community who needed care when the pandemic hit. Since then, Lasagna Love has evolved into an all-volunteer social impact non-profit marked by astonishing organic growth. In just under eight months, Lasagna Love has spread across 47 states in America (including major metros: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, New York, San Diego and San Francisco), delivered over 8,000 meals, and is supported by 4,000+ “Lasagna Mamas” and “Lasagna Papas,” a record milestone reached in active volunteers, meals delivered, and geographies supported.
“To accomplish these milestones in such a short window of time is a huge testament to the impact of Lasagna Love,” said Menn. “We are reaching more families at a time when food insecurity is skyrocketing and with non-profit status, now have the ability to gain additional funding through employer matching, Amazon Smile, and countless other avenues. All of this has been achieved organically along with personal passion from our volunteers who share a profound desire to give with purpose. Lasagna Love is highlighting a level of overlooked humanity that crosses every boundary.”
Scaling Kindness is Lasagna Love’s Umbrella Mission
Lasagna Love is predicated on a desire to help others without expectation of gratitude or reciprocation – the very essence of giving. However, delivering meals to families is just the beginning for Menn, who has set her sights on a much larger objective – scaling kindness. “Kindness has a network effect, which in turn, strengthens our communities. If we’re able to shift our perspective, to give grace and see possibility instead of focusing on what we’ve lost or what we wish we had…the entire fabric of our being is changed. Lasagna Love volunteers are setting a renewed tone around giving without judgment or divisiveness. Their generosity of spirit is seeding a behavior shift with neighbors focusing on the needs of community members without qualification, and empowering others to ask for help without fear of being deemed undeserving.”
Becoming a Lasagna “Mama” or “Papa” is easy and there is no commitment or expectation for giving. Signups and donations can be managed directly from Lasagna Love’s website. By serving those within their immediate community, Lasagna Love volunteers know to whom they are gifting a meal and recipients know from where their meal comes. This model ensures that each participant experiences the impact of giving and receiving–a memory neither will soon forget. Moreover, Lasagna Love isn’t exclusively focused on delivering home-cooked meals to struggling families. It aims to normalize asking for help, something foreign to so many, especially moms, who often shoulder the burden of doing it all by themselves. “The more frequently we message that it’s OK to ask for help, the more likely we are to shift the narrative around asking when we need it,” continued Menn.
Lasagna Love Establishes the ‘Lasagna Love Store’
To establish an additional funding source to support meal delivery to families in need, Lasagna Love has established an online store through which Lasagna Love-branded merchandise including aprons, hats, face masks, onesies, stickers and car signs can be purchased. The additional funds go towards furthering the mission of Lasagna Love—a piece of which is addressing the incredible rise in food insecurity—a serious concern further compounded by shifting home and work priorities often heavily shouldered by moms and head of households. “Our volunteers are embracing a reality of zero judgment, open heart, and giving without any expectation of appreciation,” continued Menn. “When our volunteers deliver a meal, it doesn’t just have an impact in that moment. What we’ve learned over time is that recipient families are often inspired to pay it forward and help those around them when they can. Some are even inspired to become Lasagna Mamas and Papas themselves.”
To join the Lasagna Love movement, donate, or to purchase Lasagna Love-branded merchandise, visit www.lasagnalove.org.
About Lasagna Love
Lasagna Love is a nationwide, grassroots community impact movement connecting neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery. The all-volunteer run program abides by three simple principles: feed families, spread kindness and strengthen communities. Founded by a mom in support of moms, Lasagna Love has joined together families across 47 states in America and aims to supplant historic stereotypes related to requests for support. To learn more about Lasagna Love and how you can get involved, visit www.lasagnalove.org or our social channels, @WeAreLasagnaLove (Instagram and Facebook).