Virtual “Cook-and-Deliver” Event Extends Lasagna Love Mission on National Day of Service; Nationwide Volunteer Movement Feeds Families In Need
CHICAGO, Ill. (1.15.21) – Lasagna Love, a national grassroots movement of kindness that connects neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery, has teamed up with acclaimed Chicago chef and restaurateur Michael Kornick to present a virtual “cook-and-deliver” event on Monday, January 18, 2021, at 5:30-6:30 p.m. CST.
Aligned with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday designated as a national day of service encouraging all Americas to volunteer to improve their communities, the virtual event will guide attendees step-by-step through the creation of world-class lasagna. The resulting pans of pasta, sauce and cheese will then be delivered to community members in need, courtesy of volunteers from the nationwide grassroots movement, Lasagna Love.
Lasagna Love began when one mom, Rhiannon Menn, offered to prepare and deliver meals to community members contending with pandemic fallout which included loss of job, remote learning scenarios, illness and anxiety. Her thoughtful gesture quickly gained momentum and Lasagna Love has since evolved into an all-volunteer social impact non-profit marked by astonishing organic growth. In just under ten months since its creation in the spring of 2020, 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), and delivers, on average, 1,500 meals a week. It is also powered by 10,000+ volunteer chefs, lovingly referred to as “Lasagna Mamas” and “Lasagna Papas.”
Plans for the Chicago-based event were jump-started when Chicago-based Lasagna Love volunteers Marci Sieracki, Erika Soloman and Alyssa Jefferies partnered with Chicago Committeeman Lucy Moog and organizer Tamar Newberger, both who have been actively involved in planning local events taking place on MLK Day.
The group together realized the potential after learning about the extensive work being done by Chicagoland Lasagna Love volunteers who have, for months, delivered meals to frontline responders at hospitals, police stations and fire houses as well as local families throughout the windy city. “Our goal in organizing this event was to highlight how easily anyone can spread kindness,” said Lasagna Love Chicago volunteer Marci Sieracki. “Chef Kornick generously donated his time, just as he has for so many local projects. We’re fortunate to have his involvement and look forward to seeing how many lasagnas we can make and deliver in a single day.”
How to participate:
Interested Chicagoans (and others across America) are invited to sign up for this event led by five-time James Beard Award-nominated Chef Michael Kornick through Mobilize.us. Once signed up, you will receive a list of ingredients needed to create the world’s best lasagna and will receive as a gift, a second recipe for a gluten-free, veggie option to make at your convenience. Participants are asked to have all ingredients on hand and at the ready when the event begins Monday at 5:30 p.m. CST.
“If you are a Chicagoan, our Lasagna Love team has lined up organizations that would be delighted to receive your homemade lasagna for delivery,” continued Sieracki. “For those outside Chicago, we can provide a list of suggestions on how to find a neighbor or local community member, frontline worker, firehouse or other location through which you can donate a hot meal and deliver kindness.”
Becoming a Lasagna “Mama” or “Papa” is easy and there is no commitment or expectation for giving. 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. To join the Lasagna Love movement, donate, or to purchase Lasagna Love-branded merchandise, visit www.lasagnalove.org.
About Michael Kornick/DMK
Chef Michael Kornick is a nationally-recognized leader in the culinary arts, acclaimed restauranteur, and five-time James Beard Award nominee. He is highly sought after as an authority on restaurant management and hospitality and has evolved DMK from a single burger bar to a multi-location franchise. DMK holdings include a portfolio of iconic food, beverage and experiential brands, and the organization actively supports dozens of local non-profit organizations that work on behalf of hunger, wellness, children and the environment.
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).