Volunteers jump to action in Florida & Alabama
WCK’s response to the devastating storms and tornadoes that hit the southeastern US wrapped up after serving more than 14,000 meals to impacted communities. Chef Corps members, food truck partners, and local volunteers spent two weeks cooking, packing, and delivering meals to ensure families in the hardest hit communities in Florida and Alabama got the support they needed.
In early January, a large weather system left widespread damage in Florida and Alabama. Many homes were destroyed and thousands of people were left without electricity after high winds and multiple tornadoes damaged power infrastructure. WCK was on the ground providing meals in both states less than a day after the storms.
Our teams conducted extensive scouting of the impacted areas and worked with volunteers to provide meals door-to-door to ensure we reached all pockets of need. In Alabama, we met Brandon whose home had been damaged by the storms. “It sounds like a whistle on a supercharger on a Diesel,” said Brandon, referring to the intensity of the storms. “And it happened quick. One minute the sky was clear, and the next thing you know the roof and house started shaking.”
Jared delivers meals door to door in cottonwood, AL.
Jared was one of the local volunteers who delivered meals in his town, Cottonwood, Alabama. “God did good to me, my house is fine, I’m alive, so I’m ready to help,” he said while delivering food. Volunteers like Jared are essential to helping WCK teams complete what we call “last-mile delivery,” often the most challenging part of our meal distribution efforts.
Volunteers gather in Marianna, FL before delivering meals to the community.
In Florida, local volunteers also showed up to support neighbors in need. In Marianna, a dozen people helped us get nourishing meals prepared by our food truck partners to families who needed them. All the cooking during this response was done by trusted restaurant and food truck partners. Chef Corps members Emeril Lagasse and Kelsey Barnard Clark and local favorites like Chef Joey of Grinnin’ Possum food truck cooked delicious meals like comforting bowls of gumbo.
Our partners’ commitment to support their communities is unmatched. In Florida, Buddy and Janice distributed meals out of their catering truck. Over the course of our response, Buddy drove to every imaginable store in the region to source fresh ingredients and was met with support all along the way. “I hate that it takes a disaster like this to pull people together, but it’s just amazing how they come together to help,” he said.
Buddy serves BBQ chicken with beans and coleslaw to families in Marianna, FL.
Through these efforts, communities are now empowered to jump into action quickly if they are ever hit by disaster again.
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