As a retired special education educator and speech pathologist for over 30 years, Deb Drayton Nelson has a passion for helping people.
After moving to Valparaiso two years ago from Northern Michigan, Nelson began looking for avenues to make a difference in the Region. She started to volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). The organization trains volunteers who want to make life-changing impacts on the lives of abused or neglected children in their own community. Volunteers aide the judges who have appointed them to better understand the current life of the child and ensure the child’s best interests are considered in the difficult decisions that judges have to make.
As if advocating for neglected children wasn’t enough, Nelson began volunteering for Lasagna Love last January. Lasagna Love came about at the beginning of the pandemic when an American mom started making and delivering meals to families in her neighborhood. As the pandemic affected everyone – whether it was financially, emotionally, or both – the simple gesture of cooking a meal for a family so they had one less thing to worry about that day made a huge impact in the community.
The mission found on the organization’s website, lasagnalove.org, has a focus on addressing food insecurity in families who need some extra help.
“Our mission is not only to help address the incredible rise in food insecurity among families, but also to provide a simple act of love and kindness during a time full of uncertainty and stress,” shared on the Lasagna Love website.
Now an international movement, Lasagna Love is thriving in all 50 states and is now also in Australia, Puerto Rico, and Canada. There are over 20,000 volunteers serving 3,500 meals per week in the U.S. More than 105,000 meals have been served in just one year, impacting more than 428,000 lives. The sharing of a single meal can strengthen a community by showing kindness and love.
As regional director at Lasagna Love, Nelson matches volunteers in the Porter County area with meal requests and also educates those who are interested about the organization and its mission.
“Both organizations are worthy causes, helping families in one way, shape, or form,” says Nelson.
Nelson has always been passionate about helping others become self-sufficient.
“Everybody deserves to have somebody rooting for them. Having somebody in your corner can turn your whole life around and help you make a step towards your independence,” said Nelson.
Through her profession in special education, Nelson was able to lead children to better communicate and help families better interact with them. Having these experiences and empathizing with struggling families motivates her to continue to help others.
She is forever grateful for her own family who always shows support for one another and continues to be inspired to help those who do not have the same support system.
“There has been some stigma in the past about asking for help. The reality is that all of us, regardless of the circumstances in our life, at some point could use a little help from a friend,” said Nelson. “It’s about making it ok to ask for help. Then when you get a chance, you pass it on and spread some kindness yourself.”
The Lasagna Love website allows you to request a meal, nominate someone who you feel could benefit from a meal, or become a volunteer to cook and serve meals to those in need in your area.
Nelson discussed how the organization is always appreciative of new volunteers. For anyone interested, Nelson emphasized that the support system created from the two organizations she’s a part of – Casa and Lasagna Love – is a phenomenal thing to be involved with.
“We always need more volunteers,” said Nelson. “There is always someone there for volunteers to reach out to.”
Creatively thinking, Nelson knows there are more ways to make an impact with Lasagna Love.
“We are open to working with businesses and other organizations in the community who may want to provide lasagnas or make some kind of cooperative effort,” said Nelson.
She wants to share and promote the good news of these two organizations she believes in.
For her, there is no limit to the amount of kindness to be shared. Nelson inspires others with her generosity and desire to make a difference in the lives of those in her community. Proving that anyone and everyone has the capability of making life changing gestures, Nelson believes that even if they seem fairly small, the impact is tremendous.