From the parking lot of a demolished Wal-Mart, Porter, a Kentucky restaurateur and his staff are turning out 1,500 meals, three times a day from a makeshift kitchen, for residents left devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Greg Porter, 46 left his family and restaurant behind but not his cooking skills. Despite the circumstances -- and a lack of ingredients, cooking equipment and refrigerated storage -- he and his staff have found a way to serve up peach cobbler, jambalaya, homemade ice cream and Talapia. "Each day is an adventure," said Greg, who has been paying for the food out of his own pocket. "I've been buying out the local Sam's Club."

Thanks to the Southern Women's Action Network (SWAN), shipments of food are making their way to Greg from the Mobile Food Pantry (Mobile, Alabama), but the pantry itself is very low on supplies, especially chicken, meat and other staples. "We're doing the best we can. We know there's tremendous need" said a senior staffer at the pantry, "we just don't have enough manpower, food, and trucks to meet the demand."

Below is a list of items that Greg (as well as the food pantry) needs to continue his life-saving work. The only way to get supplies to him is by truck. A Sam's Club gift certificate (which can be done online) is another option.

For more information, call Lonni Tanner at 917-575-7817.

Needs:

rice
grits
spaghetti
spaghetti sauce (with and without meat)
tuna
shelf stable milk
peanut butter
jelly
sugar
salt/pepper and other spices
peaches, apples, and other fresh, frozen or canned fruits
potatoes, whole, mashed and french fries
canned and fresh vegetables (carrots, green beans, peas -- they only have corn)
chicken, turkey, hamburger, hot dogs, etc.
refrigerated storage