Yesterday, our team took part in what is called an "ash-out." 

It's when family members return to the ashes and rubble of their homes, often for the first time, to begin sorting through whatever fragments of memories might remain from their burned down homes.

Every time we see the reality of disaster this close up, it's as if time stops. Seeing home after home reduced to ash and barely recognizable scraps of belongings takes your breath away. You don't even want to speak.

Something else always happens. We see hope in the midst of disaster. Which brings us to the "lucky day."

The California wildfire crisis continues to expand, and we are still two weeks away from what experts consider the peak wildfire season.

The Carr fire that has devastated the city of Redding (where Mercy Chefs is headquartered) is still less than 50 percent contained and now has consumed over 150,000 acres. The impact on this region is nothing less than shocking. You simply cannot escape the smoke as the air quality has made it hazardous to even go outside without a mask. And more than 1,500 homes and buildings have been destroyed.

Another massive fire more than DOUBLED in size over the weekend and is now the second largest wildfire in state history. Experts fear it could threaten thousands more homes and buildings in the coming days.

Our Mercy Chefs team just posted this video revealing the shocking devastation of the California wildfires, and how friends like you are helping to bring relief to those who are suffering.

We need your help to meet the urgent need. Help us serve THOUSANDS of meals to victims and volunteers! Go here to make your tax-deductible gift!

Mercy Chefs has deployed to northern California to provide emergency relief as fast-moving wildfires are devastating entire communities. Tens of thousands of people have been been evacuated and hundreds of structures have burned to the ground. 

We are currently serving THOUSANDS of meals and urgently need your help! Go here to make your tax-deductible gift!

In its own report this week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) admitted that the government needs "to better serve survivors before, during and after disasters." The top FEMA administrator also added that "the unprecedented scale and rapid succession" of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, along with historic wildfires in California,"stretched response and recovery capabilities at all levels of government."

Mercy Chefs' founder and president Gary LeBlanc recorded this video update on July 14 in Puerto Rico. Our solar-power initiative is moving ahead as scheduled, and we've been so touched by the people we're helping on the island this summer. The need is still so great, and Mercy Chefs is doing what we can to help. Please take a few minutes to see what your incredible caring and generosity is helping us accomplish in Puerto Rico.

We've met so many wonderful people in Puerto Rico this week. It's such a blessing and a privilege to be able to help them in their time of need. On Thursday, the team and I traveled high into the mountains again. So many people here are STILL without power, ten months after Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria hit. It's heartbreaking to see how difficult life is on the island for so many of our fellow Americans.

I want to tell you about some of the people we're helping in Puerto Rico. The Mercy Chefs team and I have been on the island all week meeting families who will receive solar power thanks to the generosity of friends like you.

The Mercy Chefs team is on the ground in Puerto Rico! We arrived this weekend and are traveling into the mountains today to begin assessing which families need power the most. We’ll visit people who are likely never to have power again. Our primary focus is on widows, single mothers, the sick and elderly hurricane victims. A little light in the darkness can mean a great deal, and that’s what Mercy Chefs is in Puerto Rico trying to do.

The Mercy Chefs team visited a shelter in Santa Lucía, Guatemala, yesterday to deliver medicine, children's clothing and other basic necessities to victims of last week's Volcán de Fuego eruption. We also brought bubbles and Frisbees® for the children there. I wish you could have seen their faces light up! So much joy!