Gene’s Blessing to provide food and aid in times of natural disaster

Hurricane season is something that all Floridians prepare for every year, but can never imagine the impact that each storm will leave as it passes.

For many residents of the southern United States, their location and housing preparedness could mean having a safe and timely evacuation route on hand.

After volunteering in Louisiana after Hurricane Laura made landfall near Lake Charles, Luther Gene Kelly realized the importance of a hot meal for residents in hurricane-impacted regions of the south. Pictured is some of the damage left behind by Hurricane Laura in 2020.

The State of Florida has been hit by at least 120 hurricanes since 1850 and with the more recent Hurricane Michael (2018) reaching the panhandle at a category 5, many were left to believe there was no sure way to prepare for its wrath.

Luther Gene Kelly, a new resident of Quincy, has seen the damages of hurricanes first-hand and feels he has a solution to those areas who may suffer from a food shortage and that is his all-new non-profit corporation “Gene’s Blessing.”

Kelly, who grew up in Tallahassee, is returning to his roots in this region of Florida after 35 years away - time which he spent as a professional Professional Golfer’s Association Tour caddie.

It wasn’t until Kelley volunteered his time in disaster relief efforts in Lake Charles, Louisiana, during Hurricane Laura in 2020 that he realized the need for a hot food service for hurricane disaster victims.

His nonprofit, Gene’s Blessing plans to serve hot, sloppy-joe style meals along with fruit, cookies, and Coca-Cola brand’s water and Powerade.

“I just knew Quincy was the perfect place even before I knew the city’s history with Coca-Cola,” said Kelly. “After hearing the Pat Monroe story, it was truly a very easy decision to choose Quincy for the location of Gene’s Blessing.”

Sloppy-joe style meals, including fruit, cookies, water, and Powerade will be distributed by Gene’s Blessing when natural disasters strike the Southern United States.

Kelly also stated that he chose Quincy as the home base for his non-profit organization because he wanted to get back to his roots in the panhandle and the city is distanced almost equally between Houston in Texas, Key West in Florida, and Wilmington in North Carolina - which forms a sort of ‘cone’ of hurricane activities and places Gene’s Blessing directly in the center of that cone.

“I think the idea is great for hurricane relief being that the power usually goes out, it would be a big help to the elders and individuals with kids. Just knowing there is a place to receive a hot meal will take the stress off of most,” said Margo White, a Gadsden County resident.

In the beginning phases of his non-profit corporation, Kelley plans to distribute at least 1,000 meals per day through delivery and in a two-lane drive up style set up starting August of 2021.

His mission for 2022 and beyond is to serve over 20,000 meals per day.

Sloppy-joe style meals, including fruit, cookies, water, and Powerade will be distributed by Gene’s Blessing when natural disasters strike the Southern United States.

Kelly plans to reach his goal through 100 percent donations and volunteers throughout the community.

“In planning for disasters, one of the first things you realize that goes down is communication. Just being able to sustain yourself for at least three days is important in preparing,” said Terri Rapsidy, a local nurse that plans to volunteer with Gene’s Blessing.

Kelly has also partnered with Andrew Reyes of Reyes Holding in Chicago, Illinois, which is one of the largest bottling and distribution companies for Coca Cola.

Kelly says he feels confident he has the capacity to oversee a large meal distribution system thanks to his experience as the food and beverage manager of a Las Vegas Hilton, which staffed over 100 waitresses and 25 chefs.

The Genesblessing.co m website became fully operating by July 1 and will fully detail the mission and plan of the corporation.

Anyone who is interested in donating or volunteering can email genesblessing@gmail.com or call (224) 315-6464.

Monetary donations for the organization’s mission will also be accepted at the Capital City Bank in Quincy, beginning July 1.

Ebony Houston - Gadsden County News Service

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