Mercy Chefs Responds to Historic Winter Storm
PORTSMOUTH, VA – Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based nonprofit specializing in disaster relief, is serving meals to communities in need following the historic winter storm that struck on January 23–26, 2026. The multi-state response is reaching individuals in Tennessee and Louisiana.
“Communities are facing loss of power and extreme cold,” said Gary LeBlanc, founder and CEO of Mercy Chefs. “Our team in Nashville has seen this week that vulnerable members of the community, including the elderly and disabled, particularly need help getting back on their feet.”
In Tennessee, Mercy Chefs has increased meal production at its Nashville Community Kitchen, and meal counts continue to rise. The Nashville Community Kitchen opened in 2021 and is one of four kitchens the nonprofit currently operates in the U.S. In addition to serving its regular weekly partners, the team is coordinating with emergency personnel to distribute meals to shelters, warming stations, nursing homes, and other critical sites.
In Louisiana, Mercy Chefs is preparing and distributing chef-prepared meals from an indoor kitchen at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, LA. Utilizing an indoor facility allows teams to safely maintain meal production during extreme cold while supporting individuals and families impacted by the winter storm across the region.
“Cold weather changes how we operate, but it doesn’t change our commitment,” added LeBlanc. “When mobile kitchens aren’t an option, we adapt—finding safe, indoor spaces so we can keep cooking and delivering meals to neighbors who need them most.”
Mercy Chefs was founded nearly 20 years ago in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when LeBlanc volunteered in New Orleans and was deeply troubled by the little-to-no food safety measures being provided to disaster victims. Today, the organization he founded has provided more than 35 million restaurant-quality meals across the country and around the globe. To support Mercy Chefs in relief efforts, visit mercychefs.com/winter-storm-2026. You can also follow Mercy Chefs on Facebook and Instagram for updates on relief efforts.