The Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire in northern New Mexico is now the LARGEST wildfire in state history and today will eclipse 300,000 acres burned. Since the fire is still only 26% contained as of this morning, this crisis is far from over. Plus, a shifting of the winds made conditions even worse over the past 24 hours.

In all, nearly a HALF MILLION acres have been consumed in New Mexico by wildfires this year -- more than the two prior years combined. CNN is reporting that 26,000 people have been forced to evacuate, and more evacuations are expected this week. In all, nearly 60,000 homes are under either mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders. 

+ + Help Mercy Chefs feed people in the midst of this crisis!

I'm calling on every Mercy Chefs friend to stand with us as we continue to provide chef-prepared meals for evacuees, volunteers and emergency workers who are in the midst of this battle against a historic wildfire.

If you haven't yet helped with our wildfire response, PLEASE DO SO TODAY! We are serving at several locations to reach the most people possible who are being impacted by these fires, and we need your help!

Go here to sponsor 10 meals (for just $35) -- or 20 ($70), 50 ($175) or even 100 ($350) or more meals -- for New Mexico fire victims and volunteers today:

If you already helped, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your support is making it possible for Mercy Chefs to stand in the gap for communities that are reeling from these fires.

The stories we are hearing from evacuees are heartbreaking. These families have been forced to leave their homes and most of their belongings behind, and they don't know if anything will remain when they return. 

Plus, with the winds continuing to blow and shift, the entire region is on high alert. Everyone is watching their phones for the latest evacuation orders. And everyone is praying for RAIN!

Please pray. And please help us feed fire victims and emergency workers.

Thanks and God bless,

Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs

Sources:
Top photo source.
CNN article.