Lasagna Love Shared with Milwaukee Families

What dish brings comfort to a family meal?

Lasagna!

Made only better with Johnsonville Italian sausage, prepared and delivered by Johnsonville Members!

That was the recipe for success last month when a dozen marketing team members used their STO (Service Time Off) hours to make 40 pans of lasagna for Milwaukee families in need of a hot, nutritious meal. Many of those Members then joined other volunteers on Milwaukee’s north side to deliver the lasagna to nearly 100 families during a pop-up food event organized by Lasagna Love and Dream Team United MKE. Johnsonville also donated 160 pounds of ground Italian sausage to families for their future lasagna meals.

It all came together as the marketing team’s culture committee was seeking initiatives for the team to engage in, with a real, human touch. “We’ve learned that marginalized communities statistically struggle more because of the pandemic,” said Marc B., integrated marketing manager and member of the marketing team’s culture committee. “When we think of how our brand can demonstrate ‘loving thy neighbor,’ the Lasagna Love effort was a great opportunity to help a community experiencing hardship.”

After learning about the national Lasagna Love effort started last spring by a San Diego mom, the marketing team’s culture committee inquired about local efforts and connected with Milwaukee regional coordinator Nicole Brown, who was hoping to organize the city’s first Lasagna Love pop-up event. (Brown is also trying to organize a Sheboygan, Wis. Lasagna Love event). Colleen K, the senior breakfast brand manager who planned the effort with Brown and Dream Team United MKE said, “we were excited to use the gifts of time and our amazing lasagna-making skills, to help those still struggling from the pandemic’s fallout.”