Lasagna Love Sees Rising Meal Requests in Essex County

Since expanding regionally in 2020, Lasagna Love has completed 4,974 deliveries across Essex County and reached about 19,800 residents, including roughly 8,000 children. Countywide demand for home-cooked meals is increasing, with Ipswich requests remaining steady while neighboring North Shore towns have surged in recent months. Lasagna Love’s data estimate that requests in the roughly 10-mile area around Ipswich rose about 60% in the most recent 30 days and climbed 33% over a 90-day span; countywide volume in 2026 is tracking roughly 12% higher than a year earlier.

To date in 2026, 147 volunteer “Lasagna Chefs” have made 677 deliveries, feeding about 2,760 people, and the uptick has strained volunteer capacity. Regional leadership said average wait times have lengthened to 30 days in 2026, up from 23 days the prior year. Executive director Andria R. Larson said the group would welcome more local volunteers. Residents can find information at lasagnalove.org.