We just published a new Mercy Chefs "Hey Buddy" podcast featuring Chef Jon White who has been spearheading our efforts in Ukraine for nearly seven months now.

This podcast provides a fascinating look "behind the scenes" at how Chef Jon and our team have managed to deliver 3.2 million pounds of food and supplies into war-torn Ukraine. Go here to listen to the podcast:

+ + Do you speak Romanian? You leave in two days...

When I first contacted Chef Jon at the end of February to talk to him about deploying to the Ukrainian border of Romania and heading up our efforts, I asked him, "Do you remember any Romanian?" Chef Jon responded with a sentence in Romanian and that was enough for me. "Good," I replied. "You leave in two days." He arrived shortly thereafter and then was on the ground for more than 150 consecutive days.

In the podcast, Chef Jon walks through what happens during a typical day as he works to facilitate the acquisition, storage and distribution of goods to support refugees, orphanages and those deep inside Ukraine.

Every week presents incredible logistical challenges. For example, Chef Jon says that right now there is a 20 kilometer line from Ukraine into Romania and a 16 kilometer line back into Ukraine. That translates into 3-4 days for a typical truck driver. Because we are moving humanitarian aid, an important aspect of Chef Jon's regular duties is working with officials to expedite that process.

+ + Ukrainians "have not given up"

Chef Jon says the indefatigable spirit of the Ukrainian people who "have not given up" is most impressive to him. Chef Jon knows those who help us inside Ukraine often risk greatly, but they tell him: "If you get me the food, I will make sure people get fed."

{{recipient.first_name_or_friend}}, in the same way, if you will continue to partner with Mercy Chefs, we will make sure those on the front lines of this war in Ukraine get fed.

This week, we'll deliver another 100,000 pounds of food and supplies. Will you stand with Chef Jon and all those who are making this possible by sponsoring 10, 20, 50, or even 100 Ukrainians to get food this week? Go here to make your tax-deductible gift:

Finally, thank you for continuing to pray for and support those in Ukraine who have already endured nearly seven months of war and are having to gear up for a long winter with no end in sight to the hostilities.

As I've shared, Mercy Chefs has committed to serving in Ukraine into next year, but to do so, we need your help. We never could have imagined being deployed in a war zone for months on end. But God has opened this door to provide a lifeline of practical relief and hope to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, and we must keep this lifeline going.

Thank you, and God bless you.

Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs