We had some special guests stop by. Most importantly, our Beacon of Hope is operating as a full-service resource for disaster victims and volunteer recovery teams. See below for details, and go here to help. --Gary

This week, Mercy Chefs' Beacon of Hope began hosting the first of many disaster relief teams that will be using our facility as "home base" while they serve the communities of Western Kentucky.

We're providing the daily meals for the teams as well as space for up to 100 volunteers to sleep right at our Beacon of Hope center. This is in addition to the meals we're providing every day to disaster victims across the region. This base of operations is allowing us to serve hard-hit communities up to 30 or 40 miles away. Thanks to your support, Mercy Chefs is at the epicenter of the long-term relief and recovery strategy for the entire region. 

This morning, my team is back up and at it again, providing hot meals to volunteers and disaster victims. Every meal we provide depends on the generous support of friends like you. 

Will you help us THIS WEEKEND as we serve hot meals to tornado victims and equip relief teams to help families who are still struggling in the early stages of recovery? Go here to help sponsor 10, 20, 50 or even 100 hot meals while we continue other vital efforts:

+ + Steven Curtis Chapman stopped by...

I've been so grateful to have both community and national leaders in full support of what we're doing. Last weekend we helped host a benefit concert that featured Kentucky natives Steven Curtis Chapman (pictured here), Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Larry Stewart of Restless Heart, Jason Crabb, and others. It was an incredible night of music to benefit relief and recovery work in Western Kentucky.

It's going to take thousands of friends from across the country partnering with us to keep this Beacon of Hope fully operational and helping to light the path of recovery. Please pray for those still struggling. And pray or our team and volunteers who are on the front lines of this relief effort.

Thanks in advance, and God bless you,

Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs

P.S. If you missed my short video on our Beacon of Hope outreach in Western Kentucky, go here:

And here's the news feature on FOXNews.com: