Winter Storm Response
Storm Relief Updates
A historic winter storm moved across much of the U.S. from January 23–26, bringing life-threatening conditions, including swaths of ice and prolonged freezing temperatures. Hundreds of thousands of Americans experienced extended power outages and little to no access to heat, water, or food. In response, Mercy Chefs served meals to storm-affected communities across Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Please continue to pray for those still recovering from the storm. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram (@MercyChefs) for more on our relief efforts.
February 9, 2026
Over 100,000 Meals Served
After the massive winter storm left hundreds of thousands without power, Mercy Chefs deployed to Nashville, TN; Monroe, LA; and Hickory Flat, MS, to serve families and seniors who had gone days without heat and hot food, or had been unable to leave their homes.
Because of our faithful supporters, over 100,000 chef-prepared meals were served to neighbors in urgent need. As power began to return, we also distributed Family Grocery Boxes to help households restock and begin the long road to recovery. Thank you for making this response possible. Your generosity brought warmth and hope when it was needed most.
February 6, 2026
From Survival Mode to Relief
Corey, a principal in Hickory Flat, MS, is carrying the weight of his entire community. With power and water still out and schools closed, families are in survival mode, unsure how they’ll care for their children from one day to the next. Each night, Corey lies awake thinking about his students and their parents, all longing for normalcy again.
When he saw Mercy Chefs serving thousands of hot meals, it brought him to tears. “Without you guys, I don’t know how some of our community members would be fed.” Thank you for keeping us on the ground, serving communities like Hickory Flat when relief is needed.
February 3, 2026
"The Way of Life, It's Come to a Screeching Halt"
Ice and road closures have left many rural, farming communities isolated across Louisiana. In Farmville, nearly 90% of barns were lost, cutting off farmers’ livelihoods and access to food, while the town’s grocery store has been unable to restock for a week. Seniors and nursing homes have been especially vulnerable, with neighbors stepping in to care for one another as travel became impossible.
Mercy Chefs has expanded meal distributions into these farming communities. Your generosity helps us reach neighbors who are cut off and reassures them that they are not alone in the days ahead.
February 2, 2026
Standing with Families Isolated by Ice
Thick ice in northern Mississippi has made roads impassable, leaving many, especially those with disabilities, confined to their homes. In rural Lake Center, families have been without power and water for over a week, struggling to stay warm in thin-walled homes as temperatures drop. Mercy Chefs is partnering with locals, including Jason, to reach those who can’t leave by ATV. Jason shared, “Preparing meals has become extremely challenging…so that’s one of the basic needs that we’re trying to meet.”
Even with risks, neighbors are coming together to care for one another. Supporters like you enable us to deliver meals to those trapped by the cold.
January 31, 2026
Preparing for More Storms Ahead
Across three states—Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi—Mercy Chefs is responding at a scale we’ve never seen during a single winter storm. Our teams are producing thousands of hot meals daily as freezing temperatures, power outages, and food shortages continue to impact communities.
As another storm takes shape, Mercy Chefs is on standby. Our Community Kitchens in Portsmouth and Richmond, VA, are ready to move quickly wherever the next need arises. Your support now more than ever keeps our kitchens operating and helps us show up for families in need. Will you stand with us today as we prepare for the storms ahead?
January 30, 2026
Bringing Warmth in the Midst of the Cold
Nearly a week after ice storms swept through Louisiana, many families are still without power. Melanie, a Mercy Chefs volunteer, is living through it herself, sharing her home with seven people and relying on a generator. With trees and power lines down, propane scarce, and homes unequipped for extreme cold, families are doing whatever they can find warmth and food. As Melanie shared, “That’s been the biggest challenge—getting warm food.”
For many, the meal they receive from Mercy Chefs is the only hot food they’ve had in days. Your support makes it possible for us to keep delivering hot, nutritious meals to families facing an extremely cold winter.
January 29, 2026
Serving Families as Winter Conditions Persist
What began as a routine January forecast quickly escalated into a historic winter disaster, battering communities with heavy ice and freezing rain. In Nashville, Mercy Chefs is working alongside church partners, like Alicia, to provide hot meals to families navigating extended outages, icy conditions, and empty pantries. Alicia explained, “When a person receives a meal, they remember how God has sent us to care for one another.”
As the need grows beyond Tennessee, we’re increasing meal distributions in Louisiana and assessing additional locations in Mississippi to establish a third relief base. Will you join us in helping families receive safe, reliable meals as they recover from the cold?
January 28, 2026
Expanding Relief in Louisiana
Ice and bitter cold continue to grip the South. For seniors, indoor temperatures below 45 degrees are creating life-threatening situations. Nashville is still facing a widespread power crisis, while the death toll in Louisiana is increasing.
Our Nashville team has already served thousands of hot meals, including 150 meals to an overflow warming shelter where many had no food. As meal requests increase, Mercy Chefs is working tirelessly to reach elderly communities, individuals without housing, and families enduring extended outages. Our response has also expanded to Monroe, LA, where the first meals were served tonight. The need is great, but your generosity allows us continue this vital work.
January 27, 2026
"A Hot Meal is Needed Now More than Ever"
More than 129,000 households remain without electricity in Nashville. With critically cold temperatures expected to continue throughout the week, families, seniors, and unhoused neighbors are facing increasingly severe conditions. Power restoration is expected to take time, and access to hot meals is crucial to keeping people safe. Through our Nashville Community Kitchen, Mercy Chefs was able to immediately serve hot, restaurant-quality meals to shelters and warming centers.
January 26, 2026
First Meals in Nashville
The winter storm system has left hundreds of thousands in urgent need of food. In Nashville alone, as many as a quarter million people are without power as bitterly cold temperatures slow recovery efforts.
Today, Mercy Chefs served our first hot meals from the Nashville Community Kitchen—pasta bolognese with sautéed fresh vegetables, sliced blood oranges, and bread rolls. As we continue meal service in Nashville, an additional team is deploying to northern Mississippi to support other impacted communities. Assessments remain underway as we monitor further needs across the region, and we are grateful for your continued support.
January 24, 2026
Severe Weather Spreads Eastward
Heavy snow, frigid air, freezing rain, and significant ice have already spread across the Plains and the South, with conditions expected to intensify through January 26. At least 21 states have declared states of emergency, and many families are already experiencing disruptions in heat and power.
As the severe weather continues to move east, Mercy Chefs is preparing to meet the growing need. As Raymond LeBlanc, Director of Strategic Initiatives, shared, “[F]or so many Americans, [winter storms] mean times without hot food.” Your support ensures we can immediately respond as communities face prolonged outages and dangerous conditions.
Make a Donation
Together, we can bring immediate relief to winter storm victims across the country. Each hot meal costs $3.50 and offers comfort, hope, and normalcy to families who have lost so much. Your gift of:
$70 provides 20 meals
$210 provides 60 meals
$350 provides 100 meals
Volunteer Today
Join Mercy Chefs in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi as we prepare and deliver hot meals to families impacted by the winter storm system. Sign up to volunteer below!
Contact Us
For more information on how you, your church, or your organization can support our relief efforts, please complete the form below.
