My name is Chef Roni. I'm a native Texan and military veteran with deep emergency aid experience. I am mobilizing an emergency kitchen to take to SE Texas to help with feeding those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

I've worked with my fellow veterans on other humanitarian issues and have an emergency kitchen in storage up north that I desperately need to get to SE Texas. I have experience setting up and running emergency kitchens and feeding large amounts of people. I want to go where I am needed and take this equipment with me.

There are a lot of people working day and night doing search and rescue that aren't getting fed regularly. In order to keep working, they need fuel. And there are many more people who are being rescued, some who haven't eaten in hours or days. The rescued will need to be fed and comforted before being moved to a longer term shelter.

That's my job - to feed anyone who needs to be fed to give them strength physically and to feed their soul.

I am a professional chef of 10 years in Dallas and Fort Worth and a certified Texas Food Safety Manager.

I wasn't eager to start a fundraising page, but it is going to cost $1500 just to rent the truck for 7 days to get the kitchen to Texas. And I just don't have this. I'm going on a wing and a prayer right now. I just know I'm needed and I must respond.

I will also require funds in order to stay mobile with the search and rescue teams that are likely to be working in this region for weeks.  Gas was expected to be around $800 or so, but with the shortages happening, that amount will likely rise. 

I will be attaching myself and my kitchen to the Cajun Navy rescue organization. They are expecting me on Monday. 

Anything raised over what is needed to get the kitchen there and stay mobile will be used to purchase food items needed to continue to feed folks. All expenditures will be regularly reported in UPDATES. Look for the updates tab to track how we spend your donations. Thank y'all!