All you need is love.

And lasagna.

The classic Italian comfort food is the inspiration for Lasagna Love, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing free homemade lasagnas to individuals in need.

The concept is simple — volunteers make homemade lasagna for people from online requests they receive and deliver them to the recipient’s residence within a designated geographical area.

Think of it as spreading kindness — one pan of lasagna at a time.

Lasagna Love was founded in 2020 by Rhiannon Menn of San Diego.

With more than 30,000 “Lasagna Love” volunteers globally, Lasagna Love adheres to three principles: spreading kindness, feeding families and strengthening communities.

Lasagna Love volunteers are located in all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Australia.

Lasagna chefs donate all of the ingredients to prepare their lasagna, with each tray of lasagna averaging about $15.

Karen Babilon of South Buffalo became a Lasagna Love volunteer a year ago.

A nurse manager, Babilon always volunteered in her community, but when she heard about Lasagna Love, she decided to share her love of cooking with others.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review Karen Babilon of South Buffalo holds a homemade lasagna she baked as a volunteer for Lasagna Love.  

“Everyone in my family always raved about how great my lasagna was, and this just gave me the opportunity to share my love with those in need,” Babilon said. “Doing this feeds my soul and makes me feel like I’m loving people just like we are commanded to do. It truly feeds me, feeding them.”

Volunteers set their own lasagna delivery schedule, selecting how often they make meals and how far they’re willing to deliver lasagna to recipients.

Babilon has signed on to feed two families per month.

Her delivery areas include Harrison, Lower Burrell, Freeport and Kittanning.

The lasagna recipients have different reasons for requesting meals, with different scenarios and situations, Babilon said.

“The need may be financial, physical or mental health-related. We provide free, fresh homemade meals to anyone who is in need, no strings attached,” Greene said.

Lasagna recipient Angel Sipe of Morningside received a lasagna from a woman from Highland Park.

“Our need wasn’t financial but pure exhaustion. I started a new career mid-pandemic and needed a break. Having a delicious, homemade lasagna and one less meal to plan for was exactly what my family needed,” Sipe said.

“People requesting meals range from those not able to work to a single mom who just had surgery. This one simple meal gives so much,” Babilon said.

Kimberly Greene, 34, saw a Facebook post about Lasagna Love that piqued her interest.

Greene is a Lasagna Love Regional Leader and has delivered about 40 lasagnas since becoming a volunteer.

“It’s a good feeling to be able to help out. The best part about it is there’s no judgment. If you want to share your story you can, but nobody has to,” Greene said.

Recipients receive their food delivery either contactless (left on a porch or doorstep) or personally at the recipient’s residence.

Greene recalled her first delivery in Armstrong County.

It was a mother who had been ailing, and her son who had requested a lasagna.

“It was heartwarming to see how much it really did help,” Greene said. “Even for one day for her to not have to get up and cook dinner.”

Heather Welsh Capo of Hempfield said she struggled emotionally during the pandemic.

Capo, 47, is a nurse and decided volunteering with Lasagna Love would help her help others.

“I knew this was a way I could help others and help pull myself out of the sadness, worry and isolation that had crept into my life,” Capo said.

To date, she has delivered about 50 lasagnas in Westmoreland County.

For Capo, many of her deliveries are particularly heartwarming.

There was an elderly disabled man and a person that had tragically and unexpectedly lost their spouse.

Capo recalled arriving at the home of a family of six with lasagna in hand, and all four children were on the porch, greeting her arrival with enthusiasm.

“Their dad came out to carry the lasagna inside. I became a little choked up when he thanked me. You never realize how much a small act can affect someone else,” Capo said.

Capo enjoys using vegetables from her own garden in her lasagna recipe.

“I’m not Italian, but my husband is. He’s my official taste tester,” Capo said.

Capo, like many of the volunteers, likes to add a special garnish touch to every lasagna.

“I like to add a little Lasagna Love flare to the top — using peppers, herbs, tomatoes and pepperoni — just to let the recipient know that it was made with love,” Capo said.

Courtesy of Heather Welsh Capo A homemade lasagna made by Lasagna Love volunteer Heather Welsh Capo of Hempfield Township is garnished with pepper hearts and the word "Love"  

Regional director Kelly Andolina said Lasagna Love was created during the pandemic.

“She and her toddler started making and delivering meals to families in the neighborhood who were struggling, whether that struggle was financial, emotional or simply a feeling of overwhelm,” Andolina said. “Lasagna Love has since grown into an international movement.”

In Pennsylvania, there are more than 1,200 active Lasagna Love volunteers.

To date, those volunteers have made and delivered more than 13,000 lasagnas that have fed more than 51,600 Pennsylvanians.

Globally, more than 1 million people have been fed from Lasagna Love.

“The moment Lasagna Love reached the one million people fed mark this year, I was completely overcome,” Menn said in a July 13 press release. “It feels both surreal and thoroughly inspiring to know so many individuals want to support their neighbors, no questions asked, and further, that pans of lasagna are still communicating support for neighbors not just nationally, but on a global scale.”

Marybeth Dadd, 52, of O’Hara recalled the first lasagna she baked as a volunteer last year.

Dadd works in education at Dusquense University and The University of Pittsburgh and is president of the Fox Chapel Area School District school board.

She said the pandemic brought out more food insecurities and she heard about Lasagna Love while watching television.

So far, Dadd has delivered about 16 lasagnas in Blawnox, Vandergrift, Sharpsburg, Braddock, Tarentum and New Kensington.

Courtesy of Marybeth Dadd Lasagna prepared by Lasagna Love volunteer Marybeth Dadd of O’Hara.  

One delivery was five minutes from her house. “It was a lady’s birthday, so I made brownies, too. She was an older person taking care of her father,” Dadd said. “It gives you personal satisfaction to know you’re helping people and food insecurities always worry me. I’m glad I can help people.”

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