Chef Andre Murphy Launches Meal Initiative to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
Photo courtesy of Andre Murphy
BY MONIQUE HOWARD | For AC JosepH Media
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — With the help of generous donations, Chef Andre Murphy achieved his goal of providing 2,500 meals for Hurricane Helene victims in Asheville, N.C.
On Oct. 15, the meal distribution was held at the Arthur R. Edington Education and Career Center. Amidst this horrific tragedy, he witnessed a collective outpouring of support for the initiative Meals For Asheville that reached a corporate level.
In total, $4,000.00 was collected for the cause, and the Atlantic City Convention Center allowed Murphy and his team to prepare the food in their kitchen.
His team member Rhonda Mack helped coordinate the meal distribution events on Oct. 15. In the past year, three meal events were held at the Arthur R. Edington Education and Career Center.
After an eight-and-a-half-hour drive to Asheville, Murphy saw firsthand the destruction Hurricane Helene had left in its wake.
“Some of the businesses were covered with water,” Murphy told Front Runner New Jersey exclaimed. “The water levels were really high. Families had to move out of their houses due to the flood. It’s really sad, but we’re glad that we were able to make a difference.”
When Murphy and his team arrived at the center, crowds gathered outside, waiting for the meals to be dispersed. The Hurricane Helene victims gratefully accepted the pre-packaged ready-to-eat food.
For Murphy, the greatest challenge was securing funds for such a major undertaking. Most of the fundraising was managed online and via text message.
His North Carolina division has scheduled an event on Nov. 24 and award-winning actress Vivica A. Fox is lending her support in distributing 800 hot meals to those in need.
Murphy’s non-profit Healing For The Soul was founded in 2021 and has not only assisted in disaster relief aid for Asheville but has also provided food for seniors, law enforcement, and countless others throughout South Jersey. Last year, Healing For The Soul launched the campaign Racing To Feed, which has helped feed over 35,000 people since the pandemic. .
“We’ve really made a name for ourselves throughout South Jersey,” he said. “We have five kitchens around the county. That makes it a little easier for us, but the sponsors have been a major part. Over 70 sponsors from banks, hospitals, and businesses support our efforts. ”
Murphy will launch a new economic relief campaign in November called Operation Bounce Back which will assist with expenses such as rent, car repair, heating and other essentials.
“We named it Operation Bounce Back because we want to help people get back on their feet,” he explains. “Even if it’s filling up your tank, you know we’ve got people out here that really care. We’re campaigning over the next six months and then we start to tour in the spring.”
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