What's happened over the past year has actually revealed my next great challenge...
When the pandemic first hit in March 2020, I began to hear the reports of elderly shut ins who couldn't access food and basic necessities. Then the massive wave of unemployment caused tens of millions to lose their jobs. And suddenly, our entire nation was not only in a pandemic health crisis, but also in grip of a crisis of practical need as if a massive natural disaster had hit from coast to coast.
I had never seen anything like it. Cars lined up for miles to receive food from Mercy Chefs. Children smiling from ear to ear because we provided them with a meal with fresh fruit. Elderly folks weeping as our teams delivered meals door-to-door in their communities. My team worked day after day through our community and mobile kitchens and by partnering with the U.S.D.A. Farmers to Families program to provide more than 10 million meals in just over a year. Mercy Chefs fed more people in more ways over the past year than at any time in our history.
+ + Here's my challenge...
At the end of last month, the Farmers to Families program we partnered with officially ended. Just one problem: the urgent need we are seeing in communities across the country has not let up. The fact is, those hardest hit by the economic crisis of the COVID pandemic are still struggling. All the studies show that those on the lower end of the income bracket have felt the full force of the shutdown. And children are suffering the most.
Our friends at Smithfield Foods tell us their data indicates that ONE IN FOUR children in America now goes to bed hungry.
Over the past year, Mercy Chefs has fed millions of those children who needed help. But now, with the government program ending, I need to build our own Mercy Chefs distribution center to serve those who are hurting... especially the children.
To build this Mercy Chefs National Food Distribution Center, we will need to go into uncharted territory. We'll need warehouse space in key locations across the country. New equipment. Refrigerated trucks. Forklifts. Staff. And immense resources to procure the food needed to feed millions of people.
So this is my challenge. I must build our own distribution center that can reach those who are still in urgent need right now.
From our founding 15 years ago, Mercy Chefs' mission has been very straightforward: "Just Go Feed People."
Over the past year, the scope of this work has grown exponentially. As a result, in the coming weeks and months we have the open doors to feed more people than I ever envisioned -- if we will boldly step out in faith to build the Mercy Chefs National Food Distribution Center.
Will you prayerfully consider how you can help us build the Mercy Chefs National Food Distribution Center?
Thank you so much for your faithful support and your prayerful consideration.
God bless,
Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs
P.S. Over the past year, the Lord has entrusted Mercy Chefs with reaching millions of people. The need is still very urgent -- especially for the children who are innocent victims of the massive changes that have left so many families on the brink. Will you help me build our distribution center so we can help millions of families? Go here:
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