17th Annual Lasagna Party!

If there is anyone who loves lasagna more than Garfield it’s the GLWD community!

In 2009, regular Thursday night volunteers Richie Fink, Bill Komar, and Vincent Meo, were discussing how they could further support GLWD beyond chopping in our kitchen. Vincent, who loved to cook in his kitchen as much as our own, quickly stated, “I make a mean lasagna!”

Sadly, Vincent passed away shortly after the first party, but the Thursday night team annually remembers and honors Vincent through the thing that he loved so much: lasagna. Richie and Bill created the “Thursday Night Lasagna Party.” This party is a fundraiser for our Race to Deliver and, what started as a small dinner raising less than $1,000, has become a lively celebration that raised $18,810 this year. In total, seventeen years of a party centered around lasagana and the memory of Vincent, has resulted in $270,870 raised for Race to Deliver to nourish our neighbors.

More than a fundraiser, this event is a family dinner filled with layers of love. Dedicated staff and volunteers come together honoring not only the legacy of Vincent, but to build a stronger community. At this years dinner, we celebrated and honored long time volunteer Angelo Sperrazza for his more than 25 years of volunteerism and support.

As the aroma of family meals fills the homes of New Yorkers across all boroughs we are reminded of the power of food in the way it hugs every individual it nourishes. We are grateful to every person in our community and today we thank Richie Fink for underwriting the dinner every year, making sure every dollar goes straight to our clients.ounder Bill Komar.