Westminster at Lake Ridge’s Ingleside Engaged Residents Fight Food Insecurity, One Dish at a Time
Since early 2024, residents at Westminster at Lake Ridge (WLR), an Ingleside community, have contributed hot dishes of pasta to those in need through Lasagna Love, a nonprofit organization that delivers pasta dishes to those experiencing food insecurity. The Lasagna Love partner project not only provides hearty meals to people in need, but it also gives WLR’s Ingleside Engaged residents, a group of seniors with mild to moderate cognitive decline, the opportunity to make a difference in their community without ever having to leave their campus.
“I tried it out myself, I signed up as a volunteer and then found a recipe that was accessible enough for us to do in a group setting within a short amount of time,” said Amy Hewes, Director of Memory Support and Programming at the senior living community. “Our target participant is someone who experiences difficulty navigating through their day-to-day routine, planning out their social life, and their activities of interest. This program provides them with structure and opens doors for them to develop friendships and a sense of community.” she explained.
Hewes brought the project along with her when she joined the WLR community and says residents who participate in the Lasagna Love program not only receive mental stimulation but are also able to stay connected with the world around them.
For a specialized group of seniors who are showing early to mid-stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s and may often experience memory lapses, Lasagna Love offers a wealth of social and cognitive benefits that contribute to their overall wellness and quality of life.
“At the beginning of each lasagna-making session, we’ll talk about the project, who are we baking for today and read some of the thank you notes,” Hewes said in a recent interview. For a lot of people, it brings back memories of their parents cooking for them or cooking for their kids. So, it also sparks a lot of conversation and it’s a full sensory experience.”
Aside from Lasagna Love, the group fundraised for the Alzheimer’s Association’s D.C. Walk to End Alzheimer’s in September, making crafts to sell to neighbors and friends and creating holiday goodie bags for kids who visit their grandparents. The group is always looking for more project ideas and is accepting suggestions from the community.
For more information on Ingleside’s Westminster at Lake Ridge community programming or to learn how you can participate in the Lasagna Love project, contact 703-783-4347 or visit https://inglesideonline.org/westminster-lake-ridge/.