Mercy Chefs serves meals to flood victims in eastern Kentucky

PIKE COUNTY, KENTUCKY (WOWK) – It’s been a week since floods tore through our region, and organizations are rallying around local communities in need of help.

Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based nonprofit, is on the ground in Pike County, providing warm meals and a sense of hope to those impacted by recent flooding.

“Food always brings people together, so when that’s taken away from them, it’s a basic necessity that you don’t always think about losing, but when you do it can be quite traumatic,” says John Thompson, Managing Chef.

Thompson volunteered with Mercy Chefs after his home in Kentucky was destroyed by a tornado, and because of his background in culinary school, staff invited him on as managing chef. He has now served thousands of meals in countless communities.

The nonprofit is currently set up in Shelby Valley High School, where WOWK 13 News Reporter Kelli McAlhany had the opportunity to speak with volunteers impacted by the flooding themselves. 

“Our home was completely surrounded with water. We had a mudslide at our home that busted our pool retaining wall,” says Ashleigh Fields, a volunteer.

Fields is just one of the people volunteering and one person affected by flooding. When she lost her car just days ago, Mercy Chefs delivered her meals, which led to her volunteering with her daughter.

“I would just say to be brave, and know that God will be with you wherever you go,” says Mia Fields, Ashleigh’s daughter.

The school is also partnering with the East Kentucky Dream Center to hold a supply drive, so anyone in need of household or sanitary supplies has a place to go get them in Pike County. When school is back into a place of normalcy, organizers plan to move supplies to an off-site location.