'You're delivering hope': Lasagna Mamas and Papas fight food insecurity in Tennessee

Editor's note: This story originally published in January exclusively for Tennessean subscribers. For early and unlimited access to stories, subscribe today. 

Penney Rudicil's mother used to on a rare occasion spend the day whipping up a lasagna for her family as a "labor of love."

So it caught her attention when she learned about Lasagna Love, a California-based nonprofit that brings homemade lasagna to those in need of a warm meal.

"I thought, 'I can do that,'" said Rudicil, who lives in Hendersonville. 

As the coronavirus pandemic has crippled the economy, forcing some people out of jobs and creating new barriers for those in need of services, the nonprofit has emerged with a big goal it hopes to accomplish through a simple act: feeding those who lack food security with a homemade lasagna. 

Since September, Rudicil has made weekly lasagnas to give people in her community, first as a volunteer and now as the regional leader for the nonprofit in Tennessee and Kentucky.

Lasagna Love began last April when founder Rhiannon Menn began cooking the dish for people in her San Diego community who needed extra care. Now, the initiative has reached 47 states, 1,000 cities and over 14,000 homes. In Tennessee, those cities include Memphis, Knoxville, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, Columbia and Oak Ridge.

17% of Davidson County residents lack food security 

Rudicil owns and operates her own travel company, but the pandemic has slowed her business, giving her more free time. She and her husband, who have been foster parents since 1991, were looking for new ways to help their community when she discovered Lasagna Love. 

Since joining, she's connected with people who struggle with food security. 

Feeding America, a food bank nonprofit organization, projects that because of the coronavirus pandemic, almost 17% of Davidson County residents lack food security. Based on 2018 data, the organization found that roughly 12% of Davidson County residents didn't have consistent access to food. 

For people who are in need of a lasagna, the nonprofit goes by a "no questions asked" policy, Rudicil explained. They don't have to meet criteria to receive help. It could be anything from a financial need to an injury preventing them from accessing food.

Rudicil recently connected with other volunteers in the area and spent 11 hours one Saturday delivering meals between Hendersonville and Jackson. 

Sandy Birdsong of Hendersonville was one of the people who received a meal from Rudicil. In true 2020 fashion, Birdsong and her husband endured blow after blow. Her husband had spinal surgery and suffered a heart attack, and Birdsong had her knee replaced, forcing her husband to retire early so he could help care for her. 

As he juggled the new responsibility of being his wife's caretaker, shuffling between medical appointments and physical therapy, they relied on only her social security benefits. 

Their finances were stretched when Birdsong applied to receive a lasagna. Almost immediately, she learned her request was granted. She called the meal "a godsend" and an act that "touched the very depths of (her) soul."

“It couldn’t have come at a better time," she said. "We were just so grateful.”

She's stayed in touch with Rudicil after receiving the homemade lasagna and said Lasagna Love brought more love into both their lives. 

"If you deliver food to someone it’s one thing, but when you deliver a meal to someone and they know you took the time to make it from scratch, a homemade meal," Rudicil said, "you’re not just delivering food, you’re delivering hope." 

Lasagna Love's footprint growing in Tennessee 

When Rudicil first began baking lasagnas, there were only 74 volunteers between the two states, but that's now grown to 252 across Kentucky and Tennessee. Rudicil estimates the more than 200 volunteers in Tennessee hand out about 400 meals weekly across the state. 

“It’s just blowing up," she said. "It’s just awesome.”

East Nashvillian Heather Parsons-McCormack is a more recent addition to the group of lasagna makers. 

“Lasagna is one of my favorite foods," Parsons-McCormack said. "I love lasagna. The idea of making it for someone else just felt really good.”

And while she doesn't claim to be a professional chef — she leaves that up to her wife, Margot McCormack, the chef and owner of Margot Cafe & Bar — lasagna is something that's easy enough for anyone to tackle, no matter how comfortable they are in a kitchen. 

Lasagna, with all its carby and cheesy goodness, is the perfect comfort food, something we could all use a bit more of now, Parsons-McCormack said. 

“Especially right now, I feel like people want comfort food," she said. "There’s so much going on in the world. It’s a simple way to help someone. You’re making food for your family, you can make an extra lasagna.”

When applying to make lasagna, filters are available to limit how far the cooks have to travel, making it easy to help those nearby. Once given the greenlight, the Lasagna Mamas or Papas, as they're called, learn the name and phone number of those they're making the dish for, so they can connect with them personally to learn diet preferences and allergies. 

Although lasagna is the star of the show, the nonprofit also encourages people to donate a salad or dessert to round out the meal. 

For more information about Lasagna Love, including volunteer opportunities or to receive a meal, visit lasagnalove.org. 

What do you want to know about food insecurity in Middle Tennessee? Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@tennessean.com and on Twitter @brinleyhineman.