Meet Rhiannon Menn | Mama, chef, and adventurer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rhiannon Menn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rhiannon, what do you attribute your success to?
I think one of the most important factors behind the success of Lasagna Love is, I just kept saying yes. You want to cook in San Diego, and wonder if there are enough families to go around? Yes! I’ll make you a custom google sheets to assign you some delivery matches. You heard about us through a friend and want to start cooking in Florida? Yes! I’ll figure out how to replicate our Facebook outreach model in a new city and state. You want to share the work we’ve been doing to celebrate good neighbor day? Yes! I’ll build a system using tools I’ve never even heard of to handle the massive influx of volunteers. All those yes’s… each one was small, but they added up to something quite significant. At every turn I kept myself open to possibility, and challenged myself to think and grow and be better. And at every yes we got better and stronger. Saying yes: that’s one of the most important factors of our success.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When COVID hit, everything in San Diego shut down – seemingly overnight. I was trying to figure out a way to help other moms who were struggling with job loss, having kids at home all of a sudden with parks and beaches closed, not to mention the emotional toll that all the uncertainty was having on us all. I starting cooking extra meals and dropping them on people’s doorsteps, and one thing led to another. I found myself at the head of a global nonprofit organization responsible for connecting thousands of people each week – on one hand neighbors who want to help by making a home-cooked meal, and on the other hand people who could use the love and kindness that meal brings.

The journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been incredibly fulfilling. Hearing the stories of the people Lasagna Love has impacted is all the motivation I need to keep going, even through the toughest of challenges. And I’ve learned so much – beyond the tactical skills of building and sustaining a business, I’ve learned the power of mindset. A mindset of possibility is what sparked Lasagna Love in the first place – instead of focusing on what we had lost, I focused on what we had and what I could do with it. I’ve learned how to navigate work and home and motherhood, and make sure that all of my cups stay full. I’ve certainly stumbled along the way, but so long as I’m open and honest with myself I can make sure I’m working in a way that’s sustainable and balanced. I’ve learned how to prioritize: when to say yes, and when to let go and let others take over. I’ve learned how to empower those around me to be their best. I’ve learned the importance of having core values as an organization, and more importantly than having them, living them. Those last two – I think that’s part of what sets Lasagna Love apart. I’m inspired by how empowered our community of volunteers are and by how every single one of them wants to live our core values, even if it means growing in ways that are new or uncomfortable. We are truly changing the world – not just through delivering pans of lasagna, but by changing the nature of how people think about asking for help, and by inspiring people to be kind to themselves and to others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting, the first thing I would do is take her to Lofty Coffee for a Moztec – it’s not on the menu, but it’s a half-spicy Atzec mocha and it’s deeeeeeeelicious!! We’d take our lattes and go for a walk along Moonlight State Beach and let our kiddos play in the sand. The next day we’d head to the New Children’s Museum, and then go for lunch somewhere in Little Italy. We’d have to get tacos and margaritas at Puesto one night (and the guacamole nogada…. mmmm!!!) and then another day drive out to the zoo safari park. There’s so much to do, but these are some of my all time favorites!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Every one of our Lasagna Love volunteers deserves a shoutout!! They are the heart and soul of this movement, and their unyielding kindness is why we even have the privilege of being here. But if I had to narrow it down, The first few Lasagna Mamas (as we used to be called) have earned a special place in my heart. Lasagna Love wouldn’t exist if these women didn’t raise their hands as soon as they saw the opportunity to help. Shoutout to my mamas in San Diego: Andria Larson, Angela Rosenblatt, Desiree Castillo, Sharon Delshad, Kathleen Beck, Genie Irish, Tess Hayes, Alex White, Dina Hunsicker, and Lesley Cooper Coe. You are all incredible, inspiring women!!

Website: www.lasagnalove.org and www.begoodtomama.com

Instagram: @begoodtomama and @wearelasagnalove

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmenn/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/WeRLasagnaLove

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreLasagnaLove

Image Credits
For the photos of me in the black apron with the kids, photo credit is Chris Rov Costa at Plated Imagery.