On Thursday, as our team left one of our meal-distribution sites, we went a different route to get back to where we were staying. On our drive, we saw a sign that read: "Elderly care facility. We need power." The building was hidden behind the trees, which made it difficult to see. But we stopped to find out how we could help.
At that point, the facility had been without power for a week — since Hurricane Michael hit. We immediately wondered how they were providing resident with meals. There are 250 elderly men and women living at this facility. Thankfully, the buildings themselves weren't damaged by the storm, but there were minimal staff on site because many lived in areas under evacuation orders. The staff members who did stay were doing their best to care for the residents despite a lack of power.
The circumstances were challenging to say the least, which is why Mercy Chefs took action and delivered lunch and dinner yesterday for all of the 250 residents. Those hot, comforting meals were part of the 30,000 we expect to prepare and serve this weekend at a cost of $75,000 — just for the groceries alone.
Some people might think we came upon this need by accident. But we know better. God provides Mercy Chefs with many, many "surprise opportunities" to feed body and soul in disaster areas and elsewhere. We are grateful that He enables us to meet those needs through the support of friends like you.
I spoke with a woman in Panama City Beach yesterday who told me her "hurricane story." She lives a couple of blocks from our deployment site. Thankfully, her house is fine, but she had to evacuate before Michael hit and went to her son's brick home in a non-evacuation zone. He lives with his wife and their two young children in Lynn Haven, which ended up being one of the hardest hit areas.
She told me about how terrifying the storm was and how her grandchildren were screaming as the hurricane pounded her son's home. They were inconsolable. The family hunkered down in the laundry room while the rest of the house was destroyed around them, but they survived! Now, they're trying to salvage as much as possible from the tattered house. Still, this woman's attitude and outlook were amazing. She said, "We have so much to be thankful for because although the house is destroyed, we are okay."
Again, this happened in a neighborhood right where we're feeding thousands of people, just like this woman and her family, this weekend. These folks have lost everything but are grateful to have escaped from the hurricane with their lives. Your tax-deductible donation of $50 today can feed 20 hurricane victims, while a $100 gift can bless 40 people in the aftermath of this deadly and devastating Category 4 storm. Go here to help now.
Thank you, in advance, for standing with Mercy Chefs as we continue feeding body and soul.
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