When Michelle Brenner left her retail job in March, she began grocery shopping for the people who are most at risk for contracting COVID-19.
The 45-year-old Gig Harbor, Washington resident was happy to offer her services free of charge. After a few days, Brenner noticed that she was getting a lot of requests for lasagna, a dish she grew up making in her Italian grandmother’s kitchen.
“If any of you wants some fresh homemade, no calorie counting lasagna, please let me know and I will gladly prepare it,” Brenner wrote on her community Facebook page. “Within a day or two, I had a few orders.”
The single mom used her entire $1,200 check to buy ingredients. But a week later, Brenner, who is now known in her town as the “Lasagna Lady,” could barely keep up with the demand. She prepared 60 lasagnas over Easter weekend in her 10-by-10-foot kitchen with no assistance.
Since March, Brenner has whipped up roughly 1,200 lasagnas. The majority of the people Brenner serves are elderly or low-income — but not all.
“It’s everybody and anybody,” she explained. “Some people just don’t want to cook. Some are afraid to leave their house. One man came by who had just lost his father and his young son.”
For the past five weeks, Brenner has been working out of a commercial kitchen at the Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club. When the club’s president, Le Rodenberg, got word about what Brenner was doing, he offered her the space. Besides, Rodenberg has received over $22,000 in donations.
4. What did Brenner first do for free?
A.Her retail job. | B.Grocery shopping. |
C.Buying lasagna. | D.Answering questions. |
5. What do we know about the lasagna Brenner provided?
A.It tasted delicious. |
B.It was nutritious and free. |
C.It was delivered home. |
D.It made her famous overnight. |
6. What does the phrase “whipped up” in paragraph 5 mean?
A.Made. | B.Posted. | C.Consumed. | D.Sold. |
7. What’s the best title for the text?
A.A Lady Comforts Her Community with Free Food |
B.Michelle Brenner Becomes Famous Overnight |
C.A Dish Makes People Comfortable in Washington |
D.People React Well to a Kind Lady’s Behaviour |