Mercy Chefs Answers High School’s Plea, Deploys to Spokane Wildfires Response

First meals will be served on Wednesday, August 12, at Lakeside High School.

PORTSMOUTH, VA — Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based nonprofit specializing in disaster relief, is coming to Washington this week after a high school in the Spokane-area community of Nine Mile Falls reached out for help in the wake of wildfires that devastated the surrounding area.

The wildfire has significantly impacted families throughout the Nine Mile Falls area, disrupting daily life just as students are preparing to return to school. Mercy Chefs will begin its response by preparing and serving hot, chef-prepared meals to students and families at Lakeside High School, located at 5909 Highway 291, Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026. The nonprofit plans to serve its first meals for lunch on Wednesday, August 12.

While Lakeside High School will serve as the initial focus of the response, Mercy Chefs is actively working with local church leaders to identify additional needs throughout the Spokane area. The organization is prepared to expand its services beyond the school to provide meals to residents, first responders, and others impacted by the wildfires wherever the need is greatest.

“We feel grateful we can answer the call to support students and families who have been impacted by the fires as they prepare for a new school year and bring a sense of normalcy,” said Gary LeBlanc, founder and CEO of Mercy Chefs. “When disaster strikes, our mission is simple: just go feed people. We are prepared to expand this deployment based on the community’s need to reach all of those who have been impacted.” 

Mercy Chefs was founded more than 20 years ago in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when LeBlanc volunteered in New Orleans and was troubled by the lack of safe, high-quality food available to disaster victims. Today, the organization has provided more than 38 million restaurant-quality meals across the country and around the world.

To support and learn more about Mercy Chefs in relief efforts, visit mercychefs.com/washington-wildfires-2026. Follow Mercy Chefs on Facebook and Instagram for updates on relief efforts.