In a moment of great need, the organization Mercy Chefs mobilized a retrofitted RV kitchen to provide hot meals to New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy. “The demand there was overwhelming; I could set up six kitchens and still not meet everyone’s needs for a hot meal,” stated Gary LeBlanc, the founder of Mercy Chefs, two weeks ago.
At the request of the Freeport mayor, the mobile kitchen was moved to Long Island to serve 1,000 individuals still residing in Nassau County emergency shelters, coinciding perfectly with the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition to feeding displaced families, LeBlanc’s team also offered meals to first responders and cleanup volunteers who worked tirelessly to restore affected neighborhoods.
They began serving hot meals at the Freeport recreational center, with intents to provide a complete Thanksgiving feast on subsequently. Rev. Tina Baker from the Refuge Apostolic Church of Christ expressed gratitude, saying, “We asked ourselves how we could provide these families who have lost everything with a Thanksgiving meal. Mercy Chefs reached out and offered their help during this critical week. It’s truly a gift and a blessing!”