That’s a Lotta Lasagna Love!
On Wednesday, January 19, Residents, staff, and Little Sisters at St. Mary’s Home were each treated to an ample helping of lasagna, lovingly cooked by neighborhood volunteers.
To honor the civil rights legend Martin Luther King, Jr. and to mark the MLK holiday on January 17, the Sheffield Neighborhood Association (SNA) collaborated with other members in our Lincoln Park community to donate their time to help others through a unique project. Two Sheffield neighbors, Lucy Moog and Tamar Newberger, led this effort, promoting “Lasagna Love” as a fun, family-focused way to serve the community.
Sr. Paul accepts lasagna from Elizabeth Posner.
Beginning as a way to address the stresses wrought by the pandemic, “Lasagna Love” aims to positively impact communities by connecting neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery. Since its inception in 2020, when the coronavirus first hit the United States, “Lasagna Love” is now a nationwide grassroots movement, boasting chapters in all 50 states.
“Lasagna Love” was all the inspiration needed to cook up this special SNA project and send eager volunteers to their kitchens to grab an apron.
On Sunday, January 16, several Sheffield neighbors participated in a free cooking class via Zoom. Famous chef, successful restauranteur and entrepreneur, television celebrity, and local legend Ina Pinkney led the class, sharing her favorite lasagna recipe and helpful cooking tips.
Heather, Emma, and Gracie (the dog) drop off their lasagna.
Although we’re not sure how many neighbors grabbed pots and pans and fired up their ovens to make meals, it must have been quite a few, because so many containers of lasagna—25 hefty pans, in fact—were dropped off at our front door.
Some casseroles were stuffed with meat, others were meatless, filled with spinach, zucchini, and mushrooms. But all were utterly delizioso!
We are grateful SNA president Brian Comer suggested St. Mary’s Home should be the recipient of much of this “lasagna love.” Few things can warm the heart and lift spirits as much as a homemade meal. And this specially prepared dish of pasta did just that!
SNA president Brian Comer presents his culinary creation to Sr. Paul.
We thank our many Sheffield families and friends for this most recent example of their kindness and generosity. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, our caring neighbors have been most supportive, showing our Residents and staff a lot of love during this difficult time, offering assistance, donations, and sending cards, letters, and well wishes.
We are blessed to have such extraordinary caring individuals and families as our neighbors. To them the Little Sisters and St. Mary’s Home, our Residents and staff, say: Grazie!
That’s a Lotta Lasagna Love!