Yesterday was one of the most painful goodbyes I've experienced since we started Mercy Chefs.

After more than three weeks on the ground and having served over 100,000 meals, our human and physical resources were simply exhausted. Even this week, we saw long lines of people waiting for hot meals from our Mercy Chefs team.

And the people have been so grateful for our hot meals and ministry. 

We're still receiving comments about the quality of the food we were able to serve! Hot, nutritious meals. Fresh salads and vegetables. REAL FOOD at a time when many had gone days without a hot meal, never mind a meal prepared by a master chef!

But leaving was very, very hard....

Even at the airport, just about every TSA agent specifically thanked us for our service. One agent actually lived right across the street from our site and knew firsthand what an impact Mercy Chefs had on the community. Even the gate agent made a point of thanking us.

We're coming back to Florida -- this holiday season if not sooner! But right now, I need your help to make sure Mercy Chefs finishes this phase of our deployment on a solid footing.

As I noted to you yesterday, we served about 15,000 meals this week alone! But our funding has fallen short of our goal to cover these final meals. In fact, we still need about $4,000 to help cover the costs and get us ready for the next phase.

Will you help me finish this phase of our Florida outreach strong? Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help meet our obligations during this final week of full-scale deployment here in Florida and continue other efforts. Please go here to give now:

As we left, there were so many tears. These people still need help. That's why we are already planning our return -- for the coming holiday season if not sooner. Mercy Chefs always goes back. We stand behind these communities through their recovery process. But to do so, I need your continued partnership.

Thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do to help Mercy Chefs feed body and soul!

God bless you,

Gary LeBlanc
Founder & President, Mercy Chefs

P.S. I can't express to you how grateful these communities in Florida have been for the role Mercy Chefs has played in the first stages of their recovery. Whenever I hear such words of gratitude, I let them know that friends like you are the real heroes. Will you help me meet this $4,000 shortfall so we can finish this phase strong as we prepare to return to Florida and continue other vital efforts this fall? Go here to help, and thanks again!