Yesterday we served over 20,000 meals and the requests for help keep pouring in. I need your support like few times in Mercy Chefs' history. Please prayerfully consider sponsoring meals for Hurricane Ian victims today, and see below for Diana's story. -- Gary

Yesterday, a woman in New Jersey contacted us.

Her 83-year-old mom, Diana, needed help. Diana is living in a retirement community here in Fort Myers, and she didn't have time to evacuate her home before the floodwaters hit.

As the waters started rushing into her condo, Diana looked for a place of safety. Her only option was her kitchen counter, where she waited until help finally arrived.

In the days since the storm, Diana's condo community had been basically isolated because the rising waters destroyed the residents' vehicles. They needed both food and water. As soon as we heard about the situation, we brought over 100 hot meals for Diana and her neighbors. My wife, Ann, made sure this delivery happened yesterday. She's pictured here with Diana.

This is what we're seeing every day here -- people who urgently need help, some who haven't been reached since the hurricane struck.

Yesterday, we surpassed 20,000 meals. Today we will likely serve even more. The situation here is still very bleak. Hundreds of thousands are without power. Many have lost everything. We're getting hot, chef-prepared meals to folks who haven't eaten a decent meal since Ian struck.

Will you help me meet the overwhelming need here in the Fort Myers area as Mercy Chefs delivers tens of thousands of meals to hurricane victims? Go here to make your tax-deductible gift:

If you already donated, THANK YOU SO MUCH! If you can help again, please do so. Our third mobile kitchen arrived over the weekend and we now have the capacity to provide even more meals. But that means we need even more support from our friends across the country.

We rely on your faithfulness and generosity! Thank you in advance, and God bless.

Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs

P.S. The first thing Diana did when the hurricane waters started entering her home was to save her favorite painting, a "Diana" original. As she showed us her painting, I was reminded once again of just how important every meal that we serve is. The people here are doing everything they can to cling to hope. A hot, nutritious meal reminds them that someone cares. Thanks for partnering with us.

Read our Hurricane Ian reports.