Mercy Chefs Responding to Hurricane Ian
credit: NOAA
Florida Response Is Expected to Be the Largest in Organization’s History
Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization that serves chef-prepared meals in national emergencies and natural disasters, is deploying to Florida in response to Hurricane Ian.
The nonprofit has been preparing all week for a significant response, one that is expected to be the largest in the organization’s history. More than 20 Mercy Chefs team members are in or en route to Florida taking care of the logistics – from grocery shopping to transportation needs – that will come with serving up to 30,000 meals each day to local communities and first responders. The organization is transporting supplies from its new Storehouse in Tanner, Ala., that ensures a more efficient response to Florida and sending three mobile kitchens as it prepares to serve tens of thousands of meals each day to communities in need.
In addition, Mercy Chefs was requested by state officials in Florida to be the primary feeder at the State Emergency Operations Center.
“We’re prepared to respond as quickly as possible with as many meals as we can,” said Gary LeBlanc, founder of Mercy Chefs. “Though we don’t know yet what communities will be struggling the most, we are committed to reaching those most in need after Hurricane Ian makes landfall and providing comfort in the form of a hot meal. We’re in touch with church partners and state officials in Florida to execute our response, and we’re praying for those who have been impacted by this destructive storm.”
Mercy Chefs has served more than 20 million meals since its founding in 2006 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when LeBlanc went to New Orleans to volunteer and realized disaster relief could be done better.
To support Mercy Chefs in its current relief efforts, visit https://mercychefs.com/hurricane-ian/. Follow Mercy Chefs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates on relief efforts.