A SEASON OF HOPE
This fall, Mercy Chefs has continued to bring hope to communities in crisis—both near and far. From hurricane relief in the Southeast to global outreaches in places like Ukraine, Honduras, and Uganda, our team has been hard at work responding to urgent needs. Now that the holiday season is here, we are reminded of the power of a shared meal to restore hope and comfort to those facing unimaginable challenges. Your partnership enables us to stand in the gap, reminding families worldwide that they are not forgotten even amid hardships.
HURRICANE HELENE
EXPLORE OUR WORK IN NORTH CAROLINA
Mercy Chefs responded to one of our largest disaster relief efforts to date after Hurricane Helene struck the Big Bend and the Southeast in late September. This powerful Category 4 storm left thousands without shelter, food, and clean water. Mercy Chefs deployed to Florida and western North Carolina, serving over 350,000 meals to devastated communities.
In Florida, we pre-staged in Bay County ahead of the storm to support first responders and troops. Later, in Newberry, FL, we distributed meals to hard-hit areas like Crystal River, Cedar Key, and Perry. Despite back-to-back disasters this year—Hurricane Debby in August and Hurricane Milton in October—the people of Florida displayed remarkable resilience as we stepped in to provide critical support.
We mobilized a second team to western North Carolina, providing much-needed relief to those displaced, like Shirley and her daughter (pictured), who were rescued by the National Guard and staying in a local shelter. We reached families in Swannanoa, Flat Rock, Marshall, Hendersonville, and more. In Bat Cave, 82-year-old Richard, a lifelong resident, noted that this disaster was even more devastating than the 1916 flood.
One of the most heartbreaking scenes came when our team encountered a group of people in Black Mountain collecting water from a broken main on the side of the road. A mother, who had been bathing her children with contaminated water, was moved to tears when we delivered clean water and hot meals to her. From a hospital rationing meals between patients and staff, to a girls’ home surviving on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, our team on the ground faithfully answered the call for help, restoring hope and comfort to those in greatest need.
But the road to recovery is far from over. Mercy Chefs is committed to supporting long-term recovery in western North Carolina through our Beacon of Hope Kitchen, providing water and thousands of meals weekly to families struggling to rebuild their lives. Though these communities are facing overwhelming challenges, your generosity will offer stability and keep hope alive in their journey.
MEET CHEF CLARENCE
While on a meal distribution in Asheville, NC, one of our team members took a wrong turn and discovered Chef Clarence, a local chef who had been using his own resources to cook for his community daily. We were able to supply him with the ingredients he needed to continue serving his 250 neighbors. At Mercy Chefs, we believe in empowering local chefs to serve their communities. “I believe this first blessing is going to bring more blessings,” said Chef Clarence.
HOPE TO THE WORLD
Around the globe, countless communities are grappling with food insecurity, brought on by economic challenges, agricultural setbacks, and the devastation of war and disaster. This holiday season—a time for warmth, joy, and sharing meals with loved ones—Mercy Chefs Global is stepping in to bring hope and nourishment to families enduring these harsh realities.
UKRAINE
Our team on the ground in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, is providing fresh bread, hearty soup, clean water, and shelf-stable proteins to forgotten villages caught in the crossfire of the devastating war. Many elderly and impoverished families are struggling to evacuate their homes; thousands of children have lost or been separated from their parents. Securing a meal has become a daily challenge, making access to nutritious food more crucial than ever.
Through our partnership with Volunteers of God, we are delivering Christmas gift boxes filled with warm clothing, toys, and festive treats to children affected by the war. These boxes will not only offer moments of joy but will also serve as a glimmer of hope amidst darkness. Your support makes these moments possible.
HONDURAS
In Honduras, a land of vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes, countless communities face extreme poverty. Our four kitchens in Chinacla, Comayagua, Oropoli, and Siguatepeque are actively providing families with nourishing meals and essential groceries. These kitchens are more than meal preparation sites—they are places of hope that allow us to reach many more struggling communities. Your generosity enables us to bring meals and the gospel to families like Angel’s (below) year-round.
THE STORY OF ANGEL
In mid-November, Tropical Storm Sara struck Honduras, cutting off hundreds of communities with relentless rains. In Pimienta, a village isolated by flooding, 75 families crossed the river on foot to receive groceries from our team. Among them was 11-year-old Angel, who shoulders the responsibility of caring for his single mother and younger sisters as the man of the house. Moments like these remind us of God’s perfect timing, placing us exactly where we are needed most. More than food, we were honored to deliver the message of hope to families, children, and widows impacted.
CUBA
Consecutive hurricanes devastated Cuba this fall, causing widespread blackouts and forcing families to cook over open-pit fires. In San Juan de los Yeros and Ranchuelo, our team has been on the ground, delivering hot meals, essential supplies, and groceries to bring nourishment and hope to these families.
UGANDA
Vulnerable communities in Kaabong and Arua, Uganda, are battling famine, with children dying from malnutrition. This year, Mercy Chefs Global has been feeding a local hospital in Kaabong and empowering a new generation of farmers to grow beans to sustain their communities. Despite facing hardships, the people of Uganda have embodied hope, joy, and gratitude.
In September, our partner in Kaabong, Pastor Samuel, shared how the community once relied on muddy puddles for water, putting them at risk of deadly diseases. Today, thanks to friends like you, a new well is fully operational, serving over 1,000 people daily. This well is more than a source of fresh water; it’s a lifeline. Beyond drinking water, this well will support women who harvest beans for local villages and hospitals, bringing hope and nutrition to an entire community.
This holiday season, we are delivering baby formula to provide critical nourishment to infants and Bibles to families who desire to feed their souls. Join us in bringing tangible hope to communities that need it the most. By giving today, you are helping us continue this vital work. Together, we can show the people of Ukraine, Honduras, Cuba, and Uganda that hope is ever present.
HOPE BEYOND DISASTER
This holiday season, Mercy Chefs is on the ground, bringing hope, warmth, and love to families facing unimaginable challenges. Across the country, we are delivering holiday meals with all the fixings, Family Grocery Boxes, and water, warm clothing, toys, and more to communities still reeling from this year’s disasters and food insecurity. For many families, this will be their first holiday without the homes and comforts lost to hurricanes, tornadoes, and floodings.
Throughout the year, Mercy Chefs has stood with these communities in their darkest hours. After consecutive impacts from severe windstorms and Hurricane Beryl in Texas, we provided nearly 200,000 meals to families enduring power outages and extreme heat. Following massive rains that flooded homes and disrupted essential utilities, we provided over 45,200 meals to displaced residents in Rock Valley, IA. From tornado-stricken towns in the Midwest to hurricane-affected areas in the Southeast, our team has worked tirelessly to provide hope in the form of a meal to those in greatest need.
In November and December, we are returning to hard-hit areas in North Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee, while addressing food insecurity in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Washington D.C. through our community kitchens.
Every meal served, every grocery box shared, and every act of kindness offered becomes a tangible reminder of hope. Recovery may take months or even years, but this holiday season, we are committed to being a source of nourishment and encouragement for those who need it most. Join us in bringing hope and healing to these communities.
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
Chef Gary LeBlanc (Founder & CEO)
Throughout the years, Ann and I have witnessed hope play a profound role in our disaster responses and community outreaches. This season is no different. Hope has guided our team through countless challenges and triumphs, driving Mercy Chefs to respond with urgency and compassion for individuals and families facing devastation and food insecurity.
Recovery is a long journey, and each holiday season, we prioritize returning to disaster-stricken communities. Over 15 years ago, we began our holiday outreaches with a single goal: to remind families that they are not forgotten in their greatest moments of need. From a homemade meal complete with all the fixings to grocery boxes that provide up to 50 meals, these tangible expressions of love restore dignity, joy, faith, unity, and hope during difficult times. Whether in the U.S. or around the globe, they offer the promise of brighter days ahead.
After an unprecedented year filled with back-to-back disasters—including one of the largest in our history—I am overwhelmed by the unwavering commitment of our team and supporters like you. Commitment is the word God impressed upon my heart at the start of this year. It is through this shared commitment that countless families have found hope, reminding them that, even when so many things feel out of reach, they are not alone.
This year, Mercy Chefs reached a remarkable milestone: 28 million meals served since our founding. Your support made this possible, and as we approach Christmas, your continued partnership can extend even more hope to those in need.
Thank you for standing with Mercy Chefs time and again. May this season bring you and your loved ones the blessings of joy, peace, and unshakeable hope. Together, we can continue to feed body and soul.
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FEEDING BODY AND SOUL