'Lasagna Love' Brings Home-Cooked Meals To Families In Need

SOMERVILLE, MA — When the coronavirus outbreak hit and people began to lose their jobs, Rhiannon Menn asked herself how she could give back to the community.

With many volunteer opportunities shut down, she had to set up something herself. In April, Menn began making extra meals and offering them on the local moms Facebook groups in San Diego, where she lived.

"We delivered a few meals that first week and a couple the next week. Then all of a sudden, people saw the post and said, hey, I've also been looking for something to do," Menn said.

Soon, "Lasagna Love," had over 300 cooks across the country, and it is still going strong. Over 2,000 lasagnas have been donated so far. Since launching the project, Menn moved to Somerville.

Menn and other volunteers offer lasagnas on local community Facebook groups. They have also begun partnering with local food banks and even, in Des Moines, a school district. Those in need can sign up on their website to get a lasagna once a month.

That need is often financial, but it also can be emotional, for people who have lost loved ones to the virus, and practical, like for single parents who are struggling with childcare.

"Getting a home-cooked meal from someone, they feel comfort, they feel cared for," Menn said of the recipients. "That's why it's called Lasagna Love."

Lasagna is a "quintessential comfort food," Menn said, adding that logistically, it's easy to make in bulk, as an assembly line-style food. Her daughter Cimorene helps her cook.

Menn said she was inspired by how many people wanted to help once she began giving out lasagnas.

"I expected there'd be a lot of families that needed the help, but every time I post I'm still overwhelmed by the number of people saying, 'What can I do?'" Menn said.

She also has been surprised by how many people have told her, when making their first order, that they have wanted to for a while but were too embarrassed.

"So many people are experiencing financial insecurity and food insecurity for the first time," Menn said. "They don't know where to go for help, or how to ask. A big goal of mine is normalizing asking for help, especially for moms"

Now five months into running Lasagna Love, Menn said she's looking to turn the project into something more sustainable.

"I want to be able to help people in the long term," she said. "I don't think this is going to end any time soon."

An earlier version of this story gave incorrect information on where Lasagna Love was founded. It has been corrected.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.