Latest News
From our Newsletter - May 2011
Mercy Chefs Responds to Severe Tornado Outbreaks of Historic Proportions across the Southern, Central, and Eastern United States
The latest devastating tornado outbreak began April 25th and continued through the evening of April 28th; it has spurred an unprecedented number of tornado strikes causing catastrophic damage throughout the Southern, Central, and Eastern States. Mercy Chefs must go, and we must go now. We need your immediate assistance to continue feeding body and soul throughout our suffering nation.
Founder and President, R. Gary LeBlanc, is currently serving in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with Mercy One, the first of two commercial-grade mobile kitchens, to establish a primary operating site and begin feeding the victims, first responders, and volunteers in the aftermath of this disastrous tornado outbreak that swept across the country.
Please CLICK HERE for a short video of Gary and Mercy One as he prepared for departure and the long haul to Alabama. [Courtesy of Testa Media, LLC]
Having just completed a two-week disaster relief effort in Pulaski, VA, serving over 4,000 hot meals, our most readily available chefs are temporarily unavailable. The recent severe weather across the United States has taken hundreds of lives and done immeasurable amounts of damage. YOU CAN HELP.
The need is great, but our commitment and dedication to our calling is undeterred. These continued emergency responses are requiring all available volunteer chefs and rapidly depleting all available reserve funds. Please help us to continue our current efforts and to rebuild our immediate response resources, so that we can be prepared for the next storm sure to come.
To volunteer, please email us:
info@mercychefs.com
From our newsletter:
What an amazing four years for Mercy Chefs. We have crossed the 100,000 total meal mark and have fed well over 14,000 people in Haiti. As you can imagine Mercy Chefs has grown to the point that that it needs more than part time attention. The door is open and I have answered the call to a full time position with Mercy Chefs. As I take this step of faith I ask for you to step out with me and for your continued financial partnership.
This year we have doubled our domestic response capability. This hurricane season 09 chefsis now upon us and forecast to be very active and destructive. We are ready, but we have been seriously stretched this year. We need your help now so we can continue to respond whenever there is a need.
All of this while we continue our work in Haiti in support of medical and rebuilding missions. We have moved over $85,000 of kitchen equipment into Haiti and have opened a full kitchen in Chambrun. Mercy Chefs has logged over 125 09 chefschef days and will continue support as long as needed. There is great excitement as we move forward. Thank you for making it possible for us to go and feed people who are hurting and in need. Your generous gifts are more important now than they have ever been.
To receive our newlsetters, sign up here!
Haiti Earthquake - This is a video from our second trip back to Haiti showing our progress in setting up permanent kitchens for feeding those in need.
Mercy Chef's Haiti update May 2010 from Mike O'Neal on Vimeo.
Haiti Earthquake - The reports of widespread devastation are overwhelming and the suffering beyond our comprehension. Mercy Chefs is making contact with our relief partners and with friends on the ground in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is hard to know what efforts we will take, however we are making every effort to formulate the most appropriate and effective response. Please pray for God's direction and provision as we prepare. We will keep you posted as more information becomes available and plans take shape.
Our two field portable water purification units that will purify up to 10,000 gallons of water daily have been made available on loan to a medical mission team and to a relief team, both on the way to Haiti. Until things are clearly assessed there is little more we can do except to pray and prepare. Please continue to pray for those affected and for provision for those who will respond. If you have any contacts in Haiti that you believe we should collaborate with, please get in touch with us at info@mercychefs.com
Happy Thanksgiving - Mercy Chefs and Bowery Mission
By the time you receive this Mercy Chefs will already be arriving in New York by plane, train and diesel truck and will begin serving the first of 9,000 Thanksgiving meals with the Bowery Mission. For the next week volunteer chefs from Virginia, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico and Wisconsin will be working with mission staff and volunteers.
From the Bill Isaacs book
“WHAT OUR STORMS TEACH US - Overcoming Hurricane Katrina”
“Perhaps you too can be used of God to help someone on a stormy time. Be ready. Be available and let God use you to help someone else. You will not regret it!
If you are looking for Jesus in the Gulf Coast region, you will find him among the thousands of workers who volunteer and give themselves to helping residents recover. You will find him in the person of Gary LeBlanc from Chesapeake, VA who operates a ministry called ‘Mercy Chefs’ traveling in areas of need to cook and prepare hot meals for local residents. His spirit is the spirit of Christ, loving, giving and enabling someone to receive a meal in the name of the Lord.”
Derick Brock, Disaster Relief Coordinator
“We know we can rely on the great cooperation of Mercy Chefs to be there when needed. We are especially indebted to Mercy Chefs for their partnership, willingness to work hard providing the finest meals anywhere, and positive attitude and care that exudes form your organization. I look forward to working with Mercy Chefs for years to come.”
Randy Johnson, Founder God’s Pit Crew
“We would like to convey how much we appreciate Mercy Chefs coming to New Orleans to cook for over 150 volunteers who participated in the St Paul’s Church and Cornerstone Church Parsonage rebuilds. Perhaps the greatest work done are things done behind the scenes. This was a huge task to feed and take care of this many volunteers .Gary, we truly admire the integrity and the way you represent yourself and Mercy Chefs. We are truly blessed to have someone who will work so hard to help others. A work that is unnoticed, but is critical.”
Jim Hudson, Director New Orleans Ministry and Care Center
“We thank Mercy Chefs and you for your ministry and the call on your heart to be a servant of Christ in these times of need when people are hurting. You have a passion to help those in need and have answered the call by saying ‘send me’. I have experienced your genuine and true heart, having set aside any desire to be in front to take on the roll of a servant. I would be glad to work alongside you at any place and time”
Quint Balkcom, Lt. Game Warden, Texas Parks and Wildlife
“On behalf of all TPWD Game Wardens, I would like to thank you and your staff for your diligence and dedication to providing hot meals for all of our men and women during the Search and Rescue Operations following Hurricane Ike. Hardy home cooked meals are a rarity during search and rescue operations. Three hot meals a day greatly increases stamina and morale among the ranks and often comforts them as they are away from their home. Speaking from experience “on the ground’ it is definitely nice to come in after a long, hot day of work and have a meal that rivals a fine restaurant. You and your team are definitely a God send and are a testament to the helping of your fellow man.”
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
If my heart is right with God, every human being is my neighbor. ~ Oswald Chambers
