If you had to describe 2020 in one word, what would it be? Here's a few that may come to mind....

Pandemic... difficulty... pain... loss... struggle... tension... 

There's no sugar-coating 2020. It's been a tough year, and the difficulties have seemed to come in waves. I think of our dear friends in Lake Charles who were hit by two major hurricanes. Or the entire nation of Honduras that was decimated by two massive storms causing catastrophic flooding. 

Yet despite all the hardship of 2020, there's another word that describes the year for me...

Hope.

Hope is such a foundational concept that it can actually be difficult to define. The Bible says "faith is the substance of things hoped for." That means hope is the bedrock for faith! That's why hope is so important. If we lose hope, despair settles in. In fact, one could argue that despair has been one of the greatest challenges facing our nation this entire year.

In 2020, more than anything else, Mercy Chefs has delivered hope. Yes, it was in the form of a meal, but the "special ingredient" in those nearly 8 million meals has been hope -- an expectation that good will come. We've seen people who have faced overwhelming difficulties come to Mercy Chefs, receive a meal, and find hope. Our hearts are forever marked by the incredible people we've met who have experienced so much pain and yet could still smile. Even in their sorrow, they have sought out joy. We saw so many tears this year, yet somehow we still saw many smiles and even heard laughter.

In the midst of seemingly endless trials, Mercy Chefs has kindled hope.

Now, as we come to the final days of 2020, I'm asking for your help once again -- so we can continue to ignite fires of hopes in millions of hearts in the coming days and weeks.

As you know, we are finishing this year with a $50,000 Year-End Matching Challenge that doubles the impact of every dollar donated until we meet the challenge. We have just four days remaining in this year and we need your help to finish strong. Can I count on your partnership? Go here to make your tax-deductible gift to Mercy Chefs, doubled by this Matching Challenge:

Yes, this has been an incredibly difficult year. But in the midst of the trials, you have helped Mercy Chefs bring hope to millions. Unprecedented challenges have been met with a level of compassion and mercy and hope that we have never seen. Thank you so much for your faithful partnership, and may God bless.

Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs

P.S. Please note that every gift made online before the end of the year is deductible and can reduce your 2020 tax liability. If you prefer to write a check, your gift must be postmarked by December 31 to provide a tax benefit in 2020. Go here for mailing instructions or to make your gift online:

SPECIAL NOTE: How the CARES Act increases charitable giving!

The CARES Act created some additional incentives for charitable giving. First, for cash contributions, you can now deduct up to 100% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) as charitable donations. Even if you do not itemize, you can now deduct $300 in cash charitable donations. Also, corporations can deduct up to 25% of taxable income as charitable donations.