Sterno Products, the name synonymous with quality and performance in portable food warming for over 100 years, announced the deployment of its Executive Chef, Thad Smith, to Panama City this week to assist the Mercy Chefs team in serving hot, chef-prepared meals to volunteer rebuilding crews as they clean up debris and help rebuild homes from Hurricane Michael’s destruction. This is the second time Sterno has deployed Smith to Florida as part of its partnership with the non-profit relief organization, which also includes providing food warming resources.

Nearly five months after Hurricane Michael’s devastation, many families are still without essential comforts like access to a kitchen to prepare and enjoy a hot meal as a family. Now in a new phase of rebuilding, Sterno is continuing its commitment to Mercy Chefs’ panhandle efforts, by providing employee time to ensure families have access to a warm, comforting meal. Mercy Chefs is expected to serve two hot meals per day in Panama City this month to families and volunteer rebuilding crews.

“The ability of Mercy Chefs to provide hot, quality meals to so many, under such adverse conditions is truly remarkable,” says Thad Smith, Sterno Executive Chef. “Having seen the devastation first-hand, I’m honored to represent Sterno as we lend support to those in this next phase of recovery.”

Mercy Chefs is a nonprofit organization that provides professionally prepared, restaurant-quality meals to victims, volunteers and first responders in national emergencies and natural disasters. Since the partnership began, Sterno has helped the non-profit serve over 400,000 meals.