Author: Becky Guschl

At the beginning of the Pandemic, Rhiannon Menn of San Diego, California, was looking to help families in her community who were struggling. She started by baking and delivering seven trays of lasagna around her neighborhood. One year later, her Lasagna Love concept is now a national movement, with over 20,000 people cooking and delivering meals in their communities.

The PSA Foundation is proud to spotlight the local chapter of Lasagna Love and its efforts to strengthen our community one tray of homemade goodness at a time.

Cooking up kindness locally

Andrea Carbaugh of the Patterson-Schwartz Newark Office is a local volunteer for Lasagna Love. She recently shared with the PSA Foundation her experience with this grassroots organization gaining ground in Delaware.

“As the saying goes, we are all in the same storm, but not all in the same boat,” says Andrea. “When I was a teacher, I saw the effects of food insecurity on young children on a daily basis. And, as a busy real estate agent working long days, I know the struggle to get dinner on the table some nights! I love to cook, so last summer, when a random Facebook ad for Lasagna Love appeared on my feed, I jumped at the opportunity.”

She has been volunteering to make lasagnas for deserving recipients ever since.

From one neighbor to another, with love

A Lasagna Love chef’s mission is to help address the incredible rise in food insecurity among families and individuals, and to provide a simple act of care during times of uncertainty and stress. To Andrea, being “matched” to cook for a family in her area seemed a simple way to show kindness, especially when she felt the daily news was full of nothing but negativity.

“The recipients have all seemed genuinely touched – their gratitude coming through in thankful texts. One family was in my own neighborhood – an eye-opening and humbling experience, to say the least. You absolutely never know who may be struggling.”

Delivery through Lasagna Love is contactless, keeping everyone safe and, in some cases, preserving the dignity of the recipient. Families may apply every 30 days, with volunteers who match frequency and distance parameters.

Andrea says she keeps herself prepared and organized by setting up an assembly line and making three lasagnas at a time.

“I make one for the recipient, one for the freezer in case I get a match when I have five buyers tours, and one for our dinner that night. There is support at all levels – even ‘Chef’ Facebook pages where everyone shares tips, recipes, and even sources for ingredients on sale!”

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Lasagna Love in Delaware

In Delaware, there are over 120 Lasagna Chefs who await their meal assignments every week. On average, there are close to 65 weekly meal deliveries, with that number growing all of the time.

Their services have reached everyone from struggling or grieving families and those recovering from illness to over-worked frontline workers and sleep-deprived new parents. Most recently, the Delaware chapter provided 20 lasagnas to the nurses and staff who run unit 4A of BayHealth Hospital in Dover, a unit that is solely working with Covid patients. 

Do you love to cook or know someone who would benefit from a homemade meal delivery? Click here to learn more about Lasagna Love and the many ways you can get involved. Monetary donations like the one from the PSA Foundation go towards the mission’s operations or volunteer chefs to reimburse them for their groceries.

Together we can light the way to a better tomorrow

The PSA Foundation was created in 2001 and supports numerous local charities and organizations whose causes are close to the hearts of the Patterson-Schwartz family of sales associates, employees, and friends. We invite you to learn more about how Patterson-Schwartz is giving back to the communities where we live, work, and play, and to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

Located in one of the fastest-growing communities in Delaware, the Patterson-Schwartz Middletown sales center is proud to announce it has relocated to 4417 Summit Bridge Road. The brand new 4,500 square foot office building by DSM construction features private parking, state-of-the-art conference areas, and expanded workspace for Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate and Fairway Independent Mortgage Company.

The new building is just around the corner from the office’s previous strip mall location. Opened in February 2001, the early sales office served the many new construction neighborhoods that started to replace the area’s vast farmland. In the subsequent years, residential, commercial, and industrial development has boomed, along with the population.

“Middletown is flourishing with new schools, new businesses, new jobs, and new housing opportunities. We are thrilled to be growing along with the community,” says Dave Watlington, Patterson-Schwartz Middletown Sales Manager. “We love having this amazing modern space for our agents to call home.”

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Strong & Growing 

Relocating during a pandemic had its challenges but the Patterson-Schwartz Middletown family of agents remained connected and strong.

To keep in touch with his team, Dave conducted meetings, round-tables, and education sessions over Zoom or chatted with the sales team via WhatsApp. Gifts celebrating the company’s 60th anniversary were distributed at a drive-up, mask-up event at the beginning of the year.

The Middletown sales center also welcomed many new agents over the last several months. There are currently more than 50 agents on the roster, 15 of whom joined the sales team in the first half of 2020. In addition to coaching from Dave, the new agents participated in an interactive, live-stream Successful Start program via zoom.

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“Aside from it being beautiful & the perfect environment for incoming clients, our new office provides the agents with a lot more space for work, meetings, etc. As a Delaware brand, I see our new building as just another way Patterson-Schwartz shows care for the consumers & their convenience, as well as for the agents and the local community. I truly appreciate all the support and resources PSA provides.”

Rhonda Smith, Patterson-Schwartz Middletown Sales Associate

Lighting the Way

The Patterson-Schwartz Middletown sales center invites the public to visit our new home or to reach out to our agents via phone call, text, chat, or email. The new blue building and bright Patterson-Schwartz signs are there to light the way to expert local real estate guidance.

Quick Links

• Find an agent/office
• About Us
• Join Our Team

Although based in Delaware, Renee’s Rescues supports rescue efforts across several states and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in particular. Their short-term goal is rescuing and safely adopting out puppy mill dogs and puppies to the loving homes they deserve. Long term, Renee’s Rescues works to stop the practice of puppy mill breeding by supporting local legislation and rescue efforts that increase awareness, provide stricter laws on breeding dogs, and advocate for animal safety and welfare. As an all-volunteer non-profit organization, 100% of every donation goes directly to saving and caring for their dogs.

Dan Logan of the Patterson-Schwartz Hockessin sales office is a dog lover and long-time supporter of Renee’s Rescues. Over the years, he, his team of agents with the Dan Logan Group, and his golden retriever Isabelle have spread awareness, raised funds, and collected supplies for the local rescue through in-person events and Facebook campaigns.  

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“My grown children each have two rescue dogs each from dogs from Renee’s,” says Dan. “I truly believe dogs are the perfect companions… Their loyalty and unconditional love can help owners through stressful times. The families that adopt from Renee’s receive something really special in return for helping these dogs overcome some tough situations of their own.”

A homeowner’s best friend

Dan is well-tuned into the special relationship between dogs and people. His golden retriever, Isabelle, passed her CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test at 13 months and earned her AKC Community Canine designation at 2½-years-old. As a trained companion, Isabelle has gone everywhere with Dan over the last 8½ years. Pre-pandemic, they visited nursing homes, hospitals, and schools. They were also regulars at local community events, attended doggie daycare and swimming lessons, and even met some celebrities in their travels. They have never been apart overnight since she was a puppy.

These days public appearances are few, and community events are on hold. However, much to the delight of Dan’s clients, Dan and Isabelle are continuing to spread cheer by attending listing appointments, walk-throughs, and settlements together. Efforts to give back to the community also remain a priority for the Dan Logan Group despite the challenges. Along with a one-time monetary contribution from the PSA Foundation, Dan donates a percentage of his sales to Renee’s Rescues.

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“Buying or selling a home is an important life event. Isabelle’s presence has a way of making the experience more pleasant, memorable, and far less stressful,” says Dan. “If we can help to make a difference in a rescue dog’s life at the same time, our service becomes a lot more meaningful than a business transaction.”

Now more than ever, non-profits need our support. To learn more about Renee’s Rescues, how you can lend your support, or how to become a much-needed foster home for a rescue dog, please visit their website. Follow Isabelle’s adventures at the Dan Logan Group Facebook page.

Together we can light the way to a better tomorrow

The PSA Foundation was created in 2001 and supports numerous local charities and organizations whose causes are close to the hearts of the Patterson-Schwartz family of sales associates, employees, and friends. We invite you to learn more about how Patterson-Schwartz is giving back to the communities where we live, work, and play, and to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

CHEF was created in 2006 to help the Cape Henlopen School District teachers raise funds for unbudgeted projects, support, and resources for their classrooms. Many students have benefited from the CHEF school supply distribution efforts, scholarship funding, and wellness programs over the years. By engaging the community in its support initiatives, CHEF helps local students obtain the tools to thrive and succeed.

Joe Lingo of the Patterson-Schwartz Rehoboth Beach sales office is a former teacher and active CHEF board member. Many of his colleagues from the PSA coastal Delaware team have kids in the Cape Henlopen School District.

“2020 was a year unlike any other and was very unpredictable,” says Joe. “By helping CHEF, you are helping the Cape stay strong, and our schools remain a positive place for students to learn.”

Winter Jam is CHEF’s annual fundraiser and Patterson-Schwartz is a returning sponsor. This year’s virtual event is on March 26 and includes live stream appearances from local celebrities and musical acts, and a online live auction and gift card drawing. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.

Together we can light the way to a better tomorrow.

The PSA Foundation was created in 2001 and supports numerous local charities and organizations whose causes are close to the hearts of the Patterson-Schwartz family of sales associates, employees, and friends. We invite you to learn more about how Patterson-Schwartz is giving back to the communities where we live, work, and play, and to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

Our Rehoboth Beach Sales Center is conveniently located on Route 1/Coastal Highway. Opened in June 2013, this full-service office is home to more than 30 REALTORS who are proud to serve the real estate needs at the beach and surrounding communities of Sussex County, Delaware.