To think that a mother and her toddler could start a neighborhood outreach that would grow around the world is incredible.  It did happen.  At the beginning of the Covid pandemic in 2020, Rhiannon Menn was looking for ways to help moms in her San Diego community.  Rhiannon, along with her toddler, started filling pans with lasagna noodles and the simple mission to feed families, spread kindness and strengthen communities.  Not only addressing food insecurity, but Lasagna Love wants to provide a simple act of welcome comfort and kindness during times of uncertainty and stress.  They started delivering extra love and kindness in the form of pans of lasagna.  To date, these chefs of mercy have baked and delivered more than 150,000 meals and impacted more than 600,000 individuals across America, Canada, Australia and Puerto Rico.  To accomplish this wonderful outreach took an army of volunteers numbering above 250,000.  In fact, there are volunteers in this joyful mission right here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
     Are you a person who loves to create wonderful meals?  Can you give one pan of lasagna a month, a week? Lasagna is in the name, but any comfort foods are welcomed just the same.  Enchiladas, Vegan meals, gluten free, taking into consideration any dietary need, is their specialty. There is a checklist on the website, lasagnalove.org, to register your desire to receive a meal.  Whether you are struggling financially, emotionally, or simply feeling overwhelmed, Lasagna Love wants to serve you.  Look further on the website and discover how you can become a part of this 501c3 community outreach.  Whether you are interested in receiving a meal or creating and delivering that meal, there is a place for you.  If you are good at logistics you might want to become a scheduler.  Keeping track of those wishes to receive a meal that was received on the website, with what, when and where, getting meals to their desired destinations, so no one goes wanting. 

     Volunteer Lorrie Votrian of Biloxi reached out to help and she is enjoying the rewards herself. “I moved to Mississippi early in 2021 and wanted to help in my community,” she said. “I love to cook, and Lasagna Love was a perfect match.  The texts I have received from the families I have shared my lasagna with have made my day.  It brings me great joy.”
     The nonprofit organization’s Mississippi Regional Leader is Gulf Coast resident Megan Ransbottom. She first became interested in Lasagna Love in September 2020, realizing a real need to step up the “Love” outreach.  In Mississippi there were more requests than chefs and some requests were unfulfilled for over two months.  Megan remembered when a “food train” was set up for her family after the loss of her first baby.  She remembers the support she felt and not having to make meals was very comforting after her devastating loss.  That was an immediate response to her needs and now Megan wants to “pay it forward for people in a timely way.” In her leadership role, she has a penchant for order with her accounting background. Megan got the ball rolling in Mississippi when she realized the need at the Keesler Air Force Base Hospital. When someone is a patient and the family lives out of town but wants to stay close to their loved ones, they can stay at Fisher House. There are kitchen facilities there, and Megan thought it would be good to fill the freezers with meals for those families to save them the expense of going to a restaurant.  She reached out to family and friends and filled the freezers with 30-35 meals, and the first volunteer chefs numbering five has grown to 15 chefs who continue to keep the freezers stocked as well as fulfilling requests from the internet. Megan said Lasagna Love is currently able to keep up with requests because of its wonderful group of volunteers.

The organization has also joined the Gulf Coast HUB led by Director of Volunteers, Bridget Turan, who assists in keeping the pipeline of volunteers filled. The nonprofit’s needs continue to grow. 
     Now, Megan would like to expand the Lasagna Love outreach, rallying others to offer support by going to the website, lasagnalove.org, to request a meal, volunteer to bake and deliver a meal weekly or monthly, put your talents to use by assisting in taking orders.  Megan’s newest request for assistance is in the form of ingredients for the meals or monetary donations.  Attempting to take the financial drain off the volunteers would really help.  Expanding the meals to comfort foods beyond lasagna has really opened up the Lasagna Love chef’s recipe books.  Enchiladas, burritos, mac and cheese, packaged to serve two to four guests, have been served.  Any dish that a family could enjoy is welcomed.
     Megan adds there is no judgement or shame in asking for assistance.  Everyone needs help some time. The stigma of asking robs people of the venue to pay back.  Crystal Broadus from Woolmarket shared why she likes to divvy up her love through the organization, “I always want to try to make a difference for people around me. I know in the big picture of things one person can only do so much.  Knowing that I could give to a family that might not have a hot meal that day/night is what we were put here to do!  Serve, give, and love everyone unconditionally! Lasagna Love is a way I can do this for people I don’t know and would have never encountered.”

     Megan has spread the Lasagna Love to first responders. She has plans to reach out to other local areas to offer help in the near future including hospitals, homeless shelters, and more. And she extends the invitation to nominate a family for a Lasagna Love delivery.  Anyone can nominate a family and then that family reaches out to Lasagna Love to accept the gift, supplying all the detailed dietary restrictions and numbers of people to be served.  It is truly a circle of love. 
     Not into cooking? But possessing a heart full of giving? Your heart can be fulfilled by donating ingredients or money toward the effort. If you are an organizer, scheduling is necessary, making sure every family who reaches out for help is delivered a scrumptious meal.
     Megan says, “There is an amazing feeling to be able to pay it forward.  Lasagna Love is such a great feel-good organization. I was on the receiving end, and I feel blessed that I can pay it forward.”   
     For more information about the organization or to become a volunteer, visit lasagnalove.org online and on Facebook, or call the Gulf Coast Hub for Volunteers & Nonprofits at 228-596-5011.

On the cover: Megan Ransbottom, Mississippi Regional Leader of Lasagna Love, has high hopes to expand the nonprofit organization’s outreach across the Mississippi Gulf Coast and throughout the state.

Susan Weller

Years of living along the Gulf Coast with a penchant for capturing photographs of smiling faces and beautiful places has brought Susan Weller to Seaside Social News. “This tenure will enhance my opportunities to capture and promote the exciting venues and activities generated by our lovely Gulf Coast and the people who live and celebrate life’s joys.”