Latest news with #MercyChefs
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mercy Chefs ‘Feed 757' campaign fighting food insecurity
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Mercy Chefs is nearing the end of its Feed 757 summer campaign, a regional effort to fight food insecurity among children across Hampton Roads. 'This really helps': Mercy Chefs' Feed 757 initiative kicks off to help feed kids throughout Hampton Roads As part of its national summer feeding program, the nonprofit has hosted weekly food distribution events at public schools since late June. Each Wednesday, 300 backpacks filled with ready-to-eat meals, water bottles, and recipe cards are handed out to families. The campaign will conclude Wednesday, Aug. 6, with a special community block party on Washington St, in Portsmouth. In addition to backpack giveaways, the event will feature free haircuts to help kids get ready for the new school year. According to Mercy Chefs, by the end of the summer, more than 3,300 backpacks will have been distributed through the program. Wednesday's event at Portlock Primary in Chesapeake was one of the final stops before next week's finale. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
09-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘An honour to feed them': Mercy Chefs founder on serving meals to those impacted by Texas floods
Watch Founder of Mercy Chefs Gary LeBlanc on feeding thousands of Texas flood victims, volunteers and first responders each day.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Alabama residents helping Texas flood recovery efforts on ground and at home
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Whether it is at home or in Texas, some Alabamians are showing their support for those devastated by floodwaters. 'So many fatalities,' said Tony Dickey, a chaplain from Baldwin County. 'So many missing people. So many misplaced families.' Death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July Fourth weekend surpasses 100 Dickey was on the ground Monday helping in Kerrville, Texas. He said he is joining Mercy Chefs in supporting first responders. 'For us on the Gulf Coast, if we remember back whenever Katrina hit, all the debris fills,' Dickey said. 'It's the debris fills everywhere down through that river area.' Dickey said that debris can take a toll of first responders, but the teams are dedicated. He said their dedication needs emotional and spiritual support. 'This is what they do, and they know how important it is to bring that child, loved one home to the family where they can have a chance to have peace by giving them a proper funeral,' Dickey said. Dickey will be there to lend a hand to rescue teams, he said. 'The first responders, you've got to remember, these guys are out here in this heat,' Dickey said. 'They are away from home, and they're having to do multiple fatality recoveries.' Gina Maiola with the Alabama governor's office said in a statement the state stands ready to assist Texas in its search and rescue efforts. Maiola stated Gov. Kay Ivey is actively working to align resources to send. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hampton Roads teams deploy to Texas to help with rescue, relief efforts after devastating floods
A Virginia Beach water rescue team and two Hampton Roads charitable organizations are among the local groups heading to Central Texas to assist with rescue and relief efforts after flash floods claimed more than 80 lives. Eight members of the Virginia Beach Fire Department's Swift Water Rescue Team left Sunday evening and are expected to arrive Tuesday, said department spokeswoman Barbara Morrison. A similar team from Bristol, Virginia, will join them, Morrison said. The Virginia Beach group is hauling a boat and a trailer full of equipment, including ropes and life vests, to help with search and rescue efforts. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday that 41 people were still unaccounted for, and more could be missing. More than two dozen staff members from the Portsmouth-based charitable organization Mercy Chefs arrived Saturday in Kerr County, Texas, and began working with volunteers to provide hot meals to survivors and first responders, according to spokesman Chaz Whitfield. The team served about 600 meals the first day, Whitfield said, and about 2,000 the second. The first day's offerings included Italian pasta, garlic breadsticks, Caesar salad, and pineapple cake with fresh berries. 'They're (staff members) going to be there as long as there is a need,' Whitfield said. 'We have no directive for an end date.' Several members of the Virginia Beach-based Operation Blessing also arrived over the weekend, and are using a local church's kitchen to prepare meals, spokesman Chris Roslan said. The team will also help with cleanup efforts and distribute relief supplies as long as needed, he said. The flooding began overnight Thursday in the Texas Hill Country as the Guadalupe River rose more than 26 feet in less than an hour. The area is home to several youth camps, including Camp Mystic, an all-girl Christian summer camp. As of Monday, 27 campers and staff members had been reported dead and 11 others were still missing. Jane Harper,
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mercy Chefs' Feed 757 initiative kicks off
Mercy Chefs kicked off a summertime effort Wednesday to help fight child hunger in Hampton Roads. The nonprofit launched its Feed 757 initiative with a backpack build and distribution event at Hodges Manor Elementary School in Portsmouth, featuring more than 130 volunteers filling backpacks with seven full meals each.
