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Do you know about Mercy Chefs?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

These are the brave and caring souls who are right now on their way to provide food for first responders and victims of the deadly tornadoes.

Following is part of the email I received this afternoon. I believe they wrote this early in the day so the numbers are a little off - or else the news media is mistaken. My husband said the last count he saw on Fox News was 14 dead.

I don't support many charities, because I believe most of the money goes to salaries for directors, but this is one I do support. Partly because I believe in the work they do, and partly out of gratitude for where I live. We have snow and cold, but no hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes.

"Mercy Chefs is deploying to tornado-ravaged Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Teams left well before sunrise this morning from Dallas and Tulsa. Chef Lisa is moving a mobile kitchen, and Chef John has a refrigerated trailer on the way. They expect to arrive in one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods this evening."

"We expect to have meals ready to serve tomorrow morning. Our kitchen and trailer will be set up at Venue Church in Hattiesburg, less than a mile from the heart of the devastation. We'll likely have a remote site, as well, located at a church across the street from William Carey University, which was so heavily damaged."

"Mercy Chefs has promised to stay onsite for as long as local officials, residents, first responders and volunteers need us. Obviously we need our friends and supporters to help us financially as we serve those who have been affected. Can I count on your emergency support as our team deploys to Mississippi?"

Please click here or on the DONATE button below to make your tax-deductible gift to help Mercy Chefs feed body and soul in tornado-ravaged Hattiesburg:

Donate to Mercy Chefs

"This deadly tornado has claimed four lives so far and caused an estimated $200 million in damage. Originally thought to be an EF2, officials surveying the damage say it was likely a strong EF3 twister. But the worst of this severe weather might not be over."

Comments(26)

Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Endre Barath, Jr. There are many charties that sound good - until you realize that their directors are pulling down more than $100,000 per year.

Jan 22, 2017 08:15 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

I totally agree with you Marte, you should see the animal rescue cause that I support she lives in a virtual tear down home drives a 15 year old car but the Vet bills are well lets just say high six figures, Endre

Jan 22, 2017 08:25 PM
Marte Cliff

Good for you Endre Barath, Jr. I'll bet she doesn't care about the house and the car - but gets great joy from helping those critters. You should write about her - maybe get her some donations.

Jan 22, 2017 08:58 PM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

Hi, Marte...this is a great shout out for Mercy Chefs. I know they do a good job and need support. 

How much snow do you have. We don't have much left in town, but there's at least ten feet on Grand Mesa. 

Jan 24, 2017 07:01 PM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Debbie Laity - they definitely need support!


We don't have a whole lot of snow - maybe a foot and a half. Just enough for my 80# dog to flounder when she tries to get through it!

Jan 28, 2017 07:26 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                                  Thank you Marte Cliff 

Jan 28, 2017 05:09 PM
Marte Cliff

Thank you Kathy! This is a wonderful organization and I'm glad to help spread the word. I appreciate you helping me do so.

Jan 28, 2017 07:24 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

HI Marte Cliff - Mercy Chefs are providing a much needed service to people that need it at a critical time. Thank you for your thoughtful post. 

Jan 29, 2017 04:31 AM
Marte Cliff

Yes Sheri Sperry - MCNE®  - If ever someone needed a hot meal, it's when a disaster such as this strikes.

Jan 29, 2017 08:00 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Marte... I have not heard of this organization before. What a wonderful concept and thank you for putting their good work and case forward here in the Rain.

Jan 29, 2017 04:36 AM
Marte Cliff

Nina Hollander It always surprises me that the news media doesn't mention them.

Jan 29, 2017 08:01 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Marte. Sounds like a charity where the funds and supplies go to those who need it, not simply those who organize it! Enjoy your day!

Jan 29, 2017 05:09 AM
Marte Cliff

Yes Wayne Martin - I'm finished with giving money to organizers. I know they're needed, but when 90% of donated dollars go to them, it just seems wrong to me.

Jan 29, 2017 08:02 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Marte Cliff ,

I'm so glad that Kathy Streib featured your post in her "Ah-ha" moments for the week. I've never heard of Mercy Chefs but what an appropriate name for those providing a much needed service to people that need it at a critical time.  Thank you for letting us know.

Jan 29, 2017 06:09 AM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Dorie Dillard - I'm glad to spread the word about people who do good things.

Jan 29, 2017 08:03 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Marte. I guess I never thought about this. I assumed the Red Cross would be there. Terrific group and eye opening post.

Jan 29, 2017 07:14 AM
Marte Cliff

I wonder about the Red Cross Sheila Anderson - accounts I've heard from servicemen say they charge for a cup of coffee. Never having been where they are, I have no idea if that's true or if they even show up at disaster areas.

Jan 29, 2017 08:04 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I can see why Kathy chose to high light your post this week!  Well done!

Jan 29, 2017 07:47 AM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Kristin Johnston - REALTOR® 

Jan 29, 2017 08:05 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Marte, this is so fundamental...and yet, I have always thought of Doctors without Borders instead of Chefs who travel to take care of people post-disaster. Thank God for these people who go through their own degree of survival to help others in peril. 

Jan 29, 2017 10:37 AM
Marte Cliff

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Realtor (503)755-2905 - I've always thought of Doctors Without Borders as only helping out in other countries. Do they pitch in when we have disasters here in the U.S.?

Jan 29, 2017 10:47 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Doctors Without Borders help out both domestically and internationally Marte Cliff and Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Realtor (503)755-2905 - but all help in the middle of a disaster is critical and an act of great sacrifice and goodness.

Jan 29, 2017 02:43 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Thanks for that information Joanna Cohlan. I agree that all who help deserve our admiration and support. I expect that there are many others like Mercy Chefs who ae never mentioned in the news, but who are doing wonderful things.

Jan 29, 2017 03:51 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

What an amazing charity Marty. Had no idea this even existed and what a great need in time of tragedy. Glad Kathy posted this on her - What I Learned This Week at ActiveRain list!

Jan 29, 2017 06:07 PM
Marte Cliff

Yes Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - hot meals have to be a lot better for those folks than cold sandwiches and granola bars.

Jan 29, 2017 10:22 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I'm learning about this more and more and I hope it all works out.

Jan 29, 2017 10:57 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

It's all about making little miracle moments happen like that. That's really what it's all about,

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin

Jan 29, 2017 11:00 PM
Marte Cliff

Laura Cerrano When you're as tired and hungry as they must be, I imagine a hot meal feels like a little miracle.

Jan 29, 2017 11:33 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

So glad Kathy shared this. I had never heard of them. What a wonderful way to give back!

Jan 30, 2017 11:46 AM
Marte Cliff

I think so too Sharon Tara 

Jan 30, 2017 01:42 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

What a wonderful organization and people who will drop what they are doing to go help. Thank you for raising their profile here on Active Rain.

Jan 30, 2017 01:17 PM
Marte Cliff

You're welcome Nick & Trudy Vandekar - I do admire those folks.

Jan 30, 2017 01:42 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Marte

Thank you for sharing information - I will definitely be donating to such a worthy cause. Such a tragedy - thankfully there are people like Mercy chefs doing wonderful things to help fellow humans in need!

Jeff

Jan 30, 2017 01:30 PM
Marte Cliff

Yes Jeff Dowler - we do need to be thankful for such people. It's too bad that our news media doesn't place more emphasis on the good things people do rather than the bad.

Jan 30, 2017 01:59 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I had never heard of Mercy Chefs, but what a wonderful organization! They perform such a necessary service.

Jan 31, 2017 03:38 AM
Marte Cliff

They sure do Kat Palmiotti - everyone needs to eat, and especially need good nourishing food when doing hard physical labor.

Jan 31, 2017 08:50 AM