ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WAVY) — Portsmouth-based Mercy Chefs is on the ground in Asheville, North Carolina and described the damage from Hurricane Helene as “shocking.”

“Entire downtowns have been washed away, and homes and businesses have been reduced to rubble,” Mercy Chefs said.

It said people in western North Carolina are in desperate need of help, and that Mercy Chefs is preparing to pass out hot meals to as many affected areas as possible.

Anyone who wants to give the gift of a meal to a hurricane victim in North Carolina can go to mercychefs.com.