Some weeks I have to pinch myself. This is one of those weeks.
After providing more than 40,000 hot meals and tens of thousands more through our meal box deliveries to Texas families over the course of 10 days, on Monday I reviewed with my team Mercy Chefs' plans for this week.
Once again, the Lord is opening doors to expand our efforts to reach hurting families across the country. 
This week, Mercy Chefs will conduct food box distributions in 20 locations as part of the U.S.D.A. "Farmers To Families" program. We have distributions scheduled in North Carolina, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. Tens of thousands of people will be helped this week!
+ + Millions Still Hurting...
The fact is, the pandemic shutdown has created an ongoing economic crisis for millions of families. Just last week alone, experts were happy to report that "only" 730,000 people filed for first-time unemployment benefits. To put that number in some context, last week's total was about SEVEN TIMES the typical number of first-time unemployment claims we would have expected before the coronavirus crisis. And since 450,000 people filed unemployment claims under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, the real number of new unemployment claims LAST WEEK actually was about 1.2 MILLION! And millions more are still struggling to find jobs or recover from weeks or months of unemployment.
+ + How you can help THIS WEEK...
That's why Mercy Chefs is expanding our participation in the Famers to Families program. That's why we're conducting 20 distributions this week. And that's why I want to do even more in the coming days!
As I write, we are working out the details on what could be a major expansion of our meal box program that would add even more distributions up and down the East Coast. I also want to do more in every hard hit area we can reach.
But to just keep up with what's on our plates THIS WEEK, we need your help!
As Mercy Chefs continues to work to meet urgent needs during this unprecedented pandemic shutdown, can I count on your help? Go here to partner with Mercy Chefs to help provide life-supporting meals for hurting folks during this crisis, while we continue other efforts:
The coronavirus crisis has been one of the greatest challenges to face our nation in our lifetimes. 
Thankfully, there are signs of hope and encouragement that we will emerge from this crisis! But right now, millions are still struggling from the ongoing economic disruption.
From this organization's very beginnings, I told the Lord I would walk in faith through the doors He opened and follow His clear vision for Mercy Chefs to "just go feed people." This week, with your help, we can do just that!
Thanks in advance, and God bless,
Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs
P.S. The meal boxes you are helping to provide are a lifeline for families whose lives have been disrupted by the coronavirus crisis and the economic shutdown. Will you help me feed hurting people this week? Thanks in advance and go here to help:
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