Friday P.M. from Pensacola
Important update. Our plans changed again today and now we are deploying IN THE HEART OF PENSACOLA where the hardest hit communities are. Please see below and go here to help us provide hot meals to Hurricane Sally victims. --Gary
The Lord just opened a door for Mercy Chefs to establish our base of operations right in DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA -- one of the communities that was hit the hardest by Hurricane Sally.
Much of this area was under water, with streets flowing like rivers at the height of the storm, many road closures and bridges out. That means there are entire communities that have been stranded. We just heard of a retirement community that was flooded but the residents are still there. They were told that no help will arrive until MONDAY! Of course, Mercy Chefs will be there this weekend to lend assistance.
Another HUD housing location faced massive flooding but was not evacuated. The residents are still there and need help. Much of this area did not evacuate because officials and forecasters thought Sally was downgrading to a tropical storm and heading far west of here. Then, it strengthened significantly overnight and made a sharp turn east before folks could flee. Then, the storm hit with high winds and more than two feet of rain.
+ + Meals TOMORROW! NEED HELP...
The good news is, we'll be serving our first meals TOMORROW and meeting critical needs all weekend. Now, I need your help.
Our resources have been stretched to the max by back-to-back disaster deployments before we serve our first meal here. I'm asking every Mercy Chefs friend to help SHARE THE LOAD so we can meet this need. Please ask the Lord how many meals you can sponsor -- 10, 25, 50, 100 or more. Then, go here to make your tax-deductible gift directly to Mercy Chefs to help provide hot meals to Hurricane Sally victims:
+ + The need here is great
As I noted, many did NOT evacuate. Plus, many of these communities were already facing economic challenges BEFORE the COVID crisis and BEFORE this storm hit. Plus, some of the traditional relief support simply has not arrived yet, and may not come.
Already, our Mercy Chefs team has faced many unexpected challenges (even more than we typically face during a disaster deployment). But now we are in the PERFECT LOCATION to reach the most people. We already have FIVE CHURCHES partnering with us to distribute meals. Plus, we'll be setting up a second kitchen just west of Pensacola in Orange Beach -- a coastal community that felt the full brunt of the storm.
The next 48 hours are critical. Thanks in advance for your prayers and your financial support!
God bless
Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs
Top photo: facebook.com/joshua.montuori
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