Busy moms, families affected by COVID-19, teachers, first responders and others are invited to request a complimentary dinner from Lasagna Love, a national organization that matches people in need of a homecooked meal with a volunteer home cook. Individuals can also anonymously nominate a friend, family member or neighbor who they believe would enjoy a lasagna.

Lasagna Love is a national group composed of approximately 24,000 volunteers. Locally, there is a Lasagna Love group in Chester County, which is headed up by regional leader Lynn Engle of West Grove.

"My husband and I were volunteering at the local food pantry and because of the pandemic, we could not do that anymore because volunteers were not allowed. It was frustrating not being able to help," said Engle, explaining why she became part of the group. "I joined in August of 2020. We have about 140 volunteers."

The national organization was started in April 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic by Rhiannon Menn of California, who wanted to help those who had lost their job or were afraid or unable to leave their homes.

As part of the program, those who would like to request a lasagna or nominate a friend to receive a lasagna can sign up at http://www.lasagnalove.org. "The person who is nominated would get an email and it says, 'You have been nominated; here is how you accept,'" Engle explained. "It directs them to the website, and they complete the process."

Those who would like to cook lasagnas are also invited to register at the website. "I have some volunteers who sign up just for one time. Some people sign up for once a month," Engle noted. "The most active person I have (makes) five lasagnas a week."

She noted that it is important that the lasagnas be homemade and not storebought. "Rhiannon, the founder, feels very strongly that (homemade food) is the 'love' part of Lasagna Love. It's the kindness of making something for a neighbor or a stranger," Engle shared. "It's like your neighbor made you dinner."

The lasagna is delivered at a mutually convenient time, and non-contact deliveries are encouraged. "Some volunteers knock on the door and wait until the recipient comes and takes the food or wait in the car to make sure it gets picked up," Engle noted.

On a week when there are not a lot of requests, volunteers are kept busy. They recently delivered 60 loaf-size lasagnas to senior residents at Luther House in West Grove. "(The seniors) were excited about it, and the volunteers were excited to be able to have that opportunity," Engle reported.

Engle emphasized that lasagnas are not just for low-income recipients. "Part of the mission statement is that there are different kinds of needs," she stated. "We are not just serving people in need financially. We deliver to people who are not working or (who are) working multiple jobs or work from home and homeschool their kids. It's only one meal and it won't change the world for the family, but it will change their world for that one day."

For more information, visit the previously mentioned website or http://www.facebook.com/WeAreLasagnaLove.