Manheim Central townlively.com
MAY 17, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Lasagna Love delivers kindness BY CATHY MOLITORIS
here’s something comforting about a lasagna. That’s the message behind Lasagna Love, an international organization that began in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, recruiting volunteers to make and deliver lasagnas to people in need. Sandi Mauer, coordinator of Lasagna Love for Lancaster County, said the organization is looking for volunteers, as well as people who would like to receive a lasagna. “We are here to help anyone in need, and there’s no judgment whatsoever,” Mauer stated. “The goal of the program is to feed families, spread kindness and strengthen communities.” Mauer began volunteering with Lasagna Love last summer, and she soon found out that the county coordinator for the program didn’t live locally. She stepped up to organize efforts in the area, and lasagnas are currently delivered throughout Lancaster County by Lasagna Love volunteers. “People can sign up for a lasagna if they have any need,” Mauer explained, adding that people can sign up at https://lasagnalove.org/request. “It could be a financial need or a health issue or an emotional need, or anyone who just needs a break from life for a moment. They can request a lasagna, and then we match them up with a volunteer who will deliver it. We don’t turn anyone down for any reason.” Mauer noted that Lasagna Love is a great program to volunteer with, because volunteers can set their own schedules. “If you only want to do one lasagna a month, you can do that,” she remarked. “If you only want to make a lasagna one time, you can do it one time and be done. If you want to do four lasagnas a month, one every week, you can do that, too. You can also set up your own delivery radius and drive as far or as close as you want to deliver.” She noted that there are options to make meat or vegetarian lasagnas and that lasagnas can be delivered unbaked or baked. Lasagna Love began in 2020 when Rhiannon Menn founded the organization in San Diego to spread kindness through home-cooked meals. Mauer noted that a study of more than 30,000 people who have received lasagnas revealed the impact of the program. “Ninety-eight percent of the recipients said that they were inspired to pay it forward, and 21% had already done so within just a few days of receiving their lasagna,” she noted, adding that they didn’t necessarily make another lasagna, but did something for somebody else. “I really love the ripple effect of this project. It just makes me feel good to participate in this project.” She also noted that quite often people who have been recipients of a lasagna become volunteers working for the organization. Mauer, who says she enjoys cooking, noted that people do not have to be professional chefs to make a lasagna. “I follow different Lasagna Love groups on Facebook, and I’ll see there are new people signing up to do it who say they’ve never made a lasagna before in their life,” she stated. “You don’t have to have any real cooking skills. You just have to be able to throw a lasagna together, and you just need to have a desire to want to help people.”
Historical society grand reopening to feature Stiegel collection Manheim Historical Society has scheduled a grand reopening on Sunday, May 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the railroad station, located at 210 S. Charlotte St., Manheim. The purpose of the grand reopening is to showcase the historical society’s Stiegel collection of stove plates, its cannon stove, and an assortment of glassware. An assortment of the Stiegel glass pieces were featured in an article in the January-February 2023 edition of Early American magazine; some of those pieces will be available for viewing in the historical society’s display cases. Also, at 2 p.m. that day, historical society volunteer Dan Snyder will give an informative presentation on Henry William Stiegel’s life. Stiegel was born in May 1729. In celebration of his 294th birthday, the historical society will serve birthday cake while supplies last on May 21 at the railroad station. Other activities will be available at the railroad complex that day as well. The model railroad room will be open, and tours of the train station will be offered. Weather permitting, the historical society will give rides on its Birney trolley. Additionally, the historical society’s colonial log houses, located at 30-32 E. High St., Manheim, will be open for free tours from 1 to 4 p.m. All activities are free. To learn more about the Manheim Historical Society, visit www.manheimhistoricalsociety.org.
Sandi Mauer
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