For generations, a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner has been a traditional way for one person show their love for another. On Feb. 14, 60 free lasagna dinners will show love for an entire community. Southport Island Association is providing these free “Love and Lasagna” dinners to spread good cheer during a difficult time. The association received an anonymous grant to help islanders impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to provide both food and community love, SIA President Alice Neily Mutch cooked up an idea combining community concerns about food insecurity with the February holiday.  

“On the west coast, organizations are providing lasagna dinners to those dealing with food insecurity,” she said. “We received this grant and I thought it would be great to combine this with Valentine’s Day. So we formed a committee to create a community fundraiser with lasagna with St. Valentine’s Day,” she said. “The purpose of this event is to say ‘Thank you’ for being a good neighbor in a time when it’s needed most.”

The meals are free, but participants may make a contribution to the association, said Mutch.

On Valentine’s Day, Mutch and fellow SIA member Brenda Tibbetts will join Southport General Store manager Nancy Long in cooking the lasagna dinners. Locals will pick up most of them between 1 and 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Southport Town Office.  For those concerned about leaving their homes due to COVID-19, the SIA will deliver about a dozen meals. 

On Feb. 4, Project Chairman Val Gamage received the 60th order for the inaugural event. Gamage hopes the event will evolve in the future. “It’s a drive-thru event because of COVID-19. We’d like to do it next year as a sit-down dinner to build some community spirit,” she said.