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Professional Chefs Head to Louisiana to Bless Flood Victims

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Professional chefs are being deployed to Louisiana to help feed flood victims restaurant-quality meals.

The Virginia-based non-profit disaster relief organization, Mercy Chefs, is behind the effort.

Beginning Tuesday, a team of chefs will prepare restaurant-quality meals for victims, volunteers, and first responders in Monroe, Louisiana.

Gary LeBlanc, president of Mercy Chefs, spoke with CBN's Mark Martin about what the group is doing to help the people of Munroe, Louisiana. Click play to watch.

The chefs are ready to serve 1,500 meals daily, each prepared in a state-of-the-art mobile kitchen.
 
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for his state after more than 24 inches of rain there led to flash flooding. The rains have not let up and the rivers are still rising.

The extreme weather has resulted in thousands of evacuations. In addition, thousands more residents have lost power. Six people have died in the flooding.

Mercy Chefs' mobile kitchen will be set up at  Evangel Assembly, 5800 Frontage Rd. in Monroe. The organization will also coordinate deliveries for victims who are not able to travel to the distribution site.

Meal times will be posted on the organization's Facebook page.

Mercy Chefs President R. Gary LeBlanc founded the organization in 2006 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"There is something about a shared meal that brings people together," LeBlanc said on the Mercy Chefs website. "When we hand someone who has lost everything a hot meal, it blesses us."

"To see them take a moment of pause -- mentally, emotionally and physically -- and eat a delicious meal in the midst of devastation, we feel that we've made a difference that day," he said.

Mercy Chefs has served more than 1 million meals since its founding. In 2015, the organization received both the Virginia Governor's Volunteerism Award and the Hampton Roads Volunteer Achievement Award for its service. 
 
*For more information, go to the Mercy Chefs website.

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About The Author

Mark
Martin

Mark Martin currently serves as a reporter and anchor at CBN News, reporting on all kinds of issues, from military matters to alternative fuels. Mark has reported internationally in the Middle East. He traveled to Bahrain and covered stories on the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mark also anchors CBN News Midday on the CBN Newschannel and fills in on the anchor desk for CBN News' Newswatch and The 700 Club. Prior to CBN News, Mark worked at KFSM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas. There he served as a weekend morning producer, before being promoted to general