Mercy Chefs Launches “Feed the Force,” Providing Grocery Boxes to Military Families

PORTSMOUTH, VA — Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based disaster relief organization dedicated to serving high-quality meals during national emergencies and natural disasters, is mobilizing to feed America’s military families as the federal shutdown continues to put financial strain on those who serve our nation. 

The organization launched Feed the Force, a nationwide deployment providing Family Grocery Boxes to active-duty service members, military families, and civilian personnel—many of whom have received partial or delayed paychecks as a result of the shutdown.

Initial operations began at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, FL, with major distributions scheduled this week at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. Mercy Chefs has also served Coast Guard families in Portsmouth, VA, and personnel at Fort A.P. Hill, with additional distributions planned in Tennessee, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and other states with significant military populations.

As the shutdown continues, thousands of military families and civilian employees are experiencing increased financial hardship due to delayed paychecks and reduced access to on-base services. Commissaries and food pantries at several installations are reporting record demand, underscoring the urgent need for meal assistance. Mercy Chefs’ Feed the Force initiative seeks to bridge that gap by ensuring consistent access to nutritious meals during a period of uncertainty.

The organization has committed 250,000 meals in the first phase of the response, with plans to scale as demand increases. 

“We are standing beside those who stand guard for us,” said Chef Gary LeBlanc, founder and CEO of Mercy Chefs. “Active-duty military and their families shouldn’t have to worry about putting a meal on the table. We believe in showing up for them with the same dedication and care they do for us daily.”

National surveys indicate nearly a quarter of military households may require emergency food assistance if the shutdown persists, and two in five military families currently rely on subsidized food programs.

Mercy Chefs teams are mobilizing through local churches, community partners, and its national network of Community Kitchens and Beacons of Hope Kitchens to reach as many impacted families as possible. While prioritizing military families, all distributions will remain open to anyone in need, ensuring no one in these communities goes hungry.

Mercy Chefs is preparing additional deployments to reach every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and National Guard communities.

For more information about Feed the Force, including ways to support or volunteer, visit mercychefs.com/feed-the-force.