Washington woman makes 1,200 pans of her famous lasagna to help neighbors in need

While grocery shopping for some neighbors during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Michelle Brenner noticed she was buying a lot of frozen lasagna — a realization that ended up changing her life.

Brenner, a resident of Gig Harbor, Washington, grew up eating her Italian grandmother's authentic lasagna. She still uses her recipe, and went on a community Facebook page to say that while she understands why people buy frozen lasagna, nothing can beat one that's homemade. Brenner offered to "gladly prepare" her lasagna for anyone who wanted it.

Brenner had been furloughed from her job, and thought this would be a nice, small project to take on. She used her $1,200 stimulus check to buy ingredients, and at first, fielded lasagna requests from neighbors and friends. Soon, strangers began asking for lasagna, and Brenner found herself making pan after pan for single parents, first responders, and people in need. Since starting three months ago, she has made at least 1,200 pans of lasagna, working eight hours a day, seven days a week.

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"The world as we know it is falling apart, but my two little hands are capable of making a difference," she told The Washington Post. "I can't change the world, but I can make lasagna." A local club is now letting her use their commercial kitchen to prepare the lasagna, and she has received $22,000 in donations so she can keep buying ingredients. She expects to return to work soon, but Brenner has no plans on stopping her lasagna project. "I love creating in the kitchen, but more importantly, I love the people I've met," she said.