Beacon of Hope Kitchen Announced for Long-Term Recovery in Texas

July 25, 2025

Beacon of Hope Kitchen Announced for Long-Term Recovery in Texas

PORTSMOUTH, VA – On Friday, July 25, Virginia-based disaster relief nonprofit Mercy Chefs held a press conference in Ingram, TX, to announce the opening of a Beacon of Hope Kitchen in the Texas Hill Country. The kitchen will serve as a long-term response hub following the devastating flooding that recently swept through Kerr County.

Since the disaster, Mercy Chefs has served nearly 70,000 hot, chef-prepared meals to flood victims, first responders, and volunteers. Now, the organization is committing to an extended presence in the area as the community rebuilds.

The new Beacon of Hope Kitchen will operate from Light on the Hill at Mount Wesley, providing hot meals and groceries through December 2025, while plans for a permanent site continue. During this transition, Citywest Church will remain an active meal distribution location, supported by local volunteers. Daily lunch and dinner service will continue without interruption.

The kitchen and its newly added warehouse space for food and grocery storage will significantly expand Mercy Chefs’ capacity with upgraded equipment and infrastructure.

This long-term initiative is made possible through strong partnerships with Blind Faith Foundation, Citywest Church, Light on the Hill at Mount Wesley, and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.

Speakers at the press conference included Mercy Chefs founders Gary and Ann LeBlanc, Blind Faith Foundation founder Tim Thomason, and representatives from the City of Ingram, Citywest Church, and Light on the Hill at Mount Wesley. Attendees captured visuals of active meal preparation and distribution efforts. Watch the press conference below.

Why It Matters

Mercy Chefs’ Beacon of Hope Kitchen marks a critical shift from immediate disaster relief to long-term, community-based recovery support—not only through hot meals and groceries but by investing in local livelihoods.

According to Feeding America, more than 9,300 people in Kerr County faced food insecurity before the flood. With tourism and hospitality industries severely impacted, hundreds of residents are now out of work and in need of sustained support.

To further serve the community, Mercy Chefs will also offer employment opportunities to local residents, bringing both nourishment and financial stability during recovery.

“We know it will take years for this area to return to normal and we’re not going anywhere,” said Gary LeBlanc, Founder and CEO. “It’s an honor to stand alongside this resilient community as they rebuild. In times of crisis, a warm plate of food offers more than nourishment, it brings comfort, dignity and a reminder that someone cares.”

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ABOUT MERCY CHEFS  

Mercy Chefs is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2006 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The organization exists to provide professionally prepared, restaurant-quality meals to victims, volunteers, and first responders in natural disasters and national emergencies, and partners with existing ministries with food service in underserved communities across the country and around the globe. Since its founding, Mercy Chefs has served more than 35 million meals. In 2020, Mercy Chefs founder Gary LeBlanc was recognized by Southern Living Magazine as a “Hometown Hero,” and Mercy Chefs was named the 2020 Small Business of the Year in the nonprofit category by Inside Business and the Hampton Roads Chamber. Mercy Chefs has also been featured in major news outlets, such as CNN, Fox News, NBC News, PBS, and ABC News. For more information, visit mercychefs.com.

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