Upon learning of the suffering in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Patti & I knew we had to find a way to provide relief to make a difference. Our company is equipped with two fully functional rolling demonstration kitchens capable of operating in remote areas with limited resources. Under the guidance of Samaritan's Purse, we started with our plans to dispatch these trailers to locations in Lansing, and Newland, North Carolina. Simultaneously, we worked diligently to coordinate logistics for food supply, staffing, and countless other operational details. A few days later we commenced operations of serving 60,000 hot meals to affected North Carolina residents.
We are immensely grateful for the generosity of our partners, including Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Performance Foodservice, Idahoan Foods, Dandee Foods, Merchants Distributors, LLC, Donut Time Concord Bakery, Häns Kissle and Tribute Baking Company, among others, for their remarkable contributions to this effort. From friends and family, we have also received some extremely unexpected and generous donations to the cause.
We are in awe of the tireless efforts of the A.J. Letizio team, who have been working both behind the scenes and on the front lines down in North Carolina to ensure the logistical support of this evolving mission. Many have stepped up, providing critical assistance by covering workloads for those directly involved, scheduling volunteers, coordinating travel and lodging, implementing equipment retrofits, planning menus, and executing food deliveries to challenging and hazardous areas. Their dedication extends to managing feeding operations, learning complex mechanical systems, and facilitating seamless handoffs for shift transitions.
Thank you all for your incredible support and commitment to helping those in need. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of those affected by this tragedy.
