As you know, the entire Mercy Chefs team has been running with all our engines "wide open." Today, we finally paused long enough to total up the number of meals your faithful support has reached during this time.

I've been doing this a long time, but I was stunned when I saw the totals...

In the past 40 days, your support of Mercy Chefs has helped this ministry to distribute an amazing 199,095 meals! Here's the breakdown:

• 40,185 meals during our Chattanooga tornado response
• 75,000 meals from our Virginia community kitchen across a 100+ mile radius encompassing at least ten cities
• 83,910 through our 18 coronavirus crisis response distribution locations across the country

+ + Huge challenge in front of us...

This has been one of the most amazing and productive seasons in Mercy Chefs' history. But there is still a huge challenge in front of us. The coronavirus crisis is creating an enormous need across the country. For example, our partners in South Dallas served about a thousand kids the other day (pictured here are a few of those kids).
It was some of the best food they had ever been able to offer. But they had to turn people away...

"We had to close the gate at 1pm even though there was still a long line waiting hoping to get in.  It's disheartening but thankful for the 1,000 kids we did get to help.... It was the first time we were able to give out bread."

I'm so thrilled that with your help we're reaching so many people. But it hurts my heart to hear that even one person is turned away -- especially while our nation is gripped by the crisis of unprecedented proportions.

South Dallas is just one of 13 locations Mercy Chefs is serving this week to provide meal resources to hurting families and elderly shut-ins who have been so impacted by the coronavirus crisis. And we continue to add locations.

For example, as part of our ongoing work to help the good folks in Chattanooga recover from that massive tornado, we are setting up distribution points that will provide 1,200 meals daily to that community for the foreseeable future.

This week alone, we have the opportunity to help provide thousands of meals to needy kids and elderly shut ins. But to do so, we need the help of friends like you. Will you partner with Mercy Chefs right now to help those who are facing such difficult times during this coronavirus crisis while we continue other vital efforts? Go here to make your tax-deductible gift:

+ + We'll provide over 5,000 meals today, but we could do much more!

As you can see, this has been one of the most amazing and challenging months in Mercy Chefs' history. But with the unemployment numbers continuing to rise, the reality of the COVID crisis is setting in for hurting families and elderly shut-ins.

I simply cannot shrink back. Today alone, we'll provide over 5,000 meals. But we could do much more! We are only limited by our resources!

Will you help meet these urgent needs and expand to reach more folks in the coming days?

Thank you so much for your prayers and for your faithful partnership with Mercy Chefs!

Gary LeBlanc