Monday P.M.

Please see my update below on our Ukraine relief efforts. Also, we still need help to meet our $40,000 Challenge gift for Ukraine that doubles the impact of every gift. Go here to feed Ukraine war victims (with your gift doubled by the challenge), and see below. --Gary

Here's a quick update on our Ukraine relief efforts. Currently, we are facing some significant challenges, but these challenges are not stopping our team!

For example, transportation into Ukraine is becoming more difficult. The other day, the line for trucks to cross the border into Ukraine near our warehouse stretched about 10 miles! As a result, we are now working on sending our trucks first into the neighboring country of Moldova and then into Ukraine. It's a huge detour (with significant additional costs for fuel). But this is our best avenue for getting trucks to those in need inside Ukraine. 

We are also increasing our van deliveries directly from our warehouse into Ukraine since vans are able to cross more easily. It's still challenging because our vans have to navigate the two-lane road at the border where trucks are lined up for miles and vehicles are coming in the other direction!

+ + Russia's attacks are INCREASING!

Despite these obstacles, Mercy Chefs is determined to do everything we possibly can to get food and supplies both to refugees and those inside Ukraine -- especially with Russia's war against Ukraine showing no signs of stopping (and actually increasing).

U.S. officials are now saying that Russia has ramped up the number of strikes in recent weeks. Plus, there are more reports today of deadly Russian attacks on civilian areas, including a shopping mall that had as many as 1,000 people in it when the strike hit.

On top of this, with many Ukrainians now trying to return to their homes (even though the fighting continues), the relief need today may actually be GREATER than it was a month ago.

+ + Ukraine relief gifts today DOUBLED by a special challenge...

As you may recall, late last week some friends of Mercy Chefs offered a $40,000 Matching Gift for our Ukraine efforts. As of today, we are just over half way to that goal. I want to fully match this special gift for Ukraine in the next 48 hours if at all possible. 

If you haven't done so already, would you prayerfully consider making a donation today to help us meet this Matching Gift? Your $50 gift will effectively be doubled to $100; $100 becomes $200, $500 has the impact of $1,000. Go here to make your tax-deductible donation -- doubled by this matching gift:

This special $40,000 matching gift is a tremendous blessing. Each week, Mercy Chefs continues to deliver, on average, about 100,000 pounds of food and supplies to those inside Ukraine. We're also feeding orphanages throughout Ukraine as well as refugee camps in both Romania and the Chernivsti region of Ukraine. The need is immense. I want to do even more, but at times just keeping up with the daily demand is a challenge. That's why I'm so grateful for this Matching Gift.

Will you help me today as we continue to reach out to those suffering in the midst of this horrible war? Go here to donate to Ukraine relief, and please keep praying for the people of Ukraine.

God bless,

Gary

News source: CNN