Benefit for Chef Jodie’s daughter

Chef Jodie Merritt is pretty well known around town. His work in Mercy Chefs probably jumps to the forefront along with his experience at multiple restaurants in Wimberley.

The Mercy Chefs arrived during the floods of 2015 and gave relief ASAP. They are a non-profit relief organization that helps disaster victims and first responders during national emergencies and by cooking gourmet meals at the site and helping in other ways.

“I help with GPS services then cook for the disaster victims,” Chef Jodie said. Locally, he has also advised numerous restaurants at different times like Verde, the Back Porch and the Wimberley Café. While Jodie is used to helping others, this time it is him and his family that needs a bit of help.

This Sunday, December 15, from noon until 8 p.m. at Riley’s on the Backbone there will be a benefit for his daughter who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and given a dire prognosis.

“My daughter Kristen is 20 years old… experimental drugs could not clean it up. There is a 65% mortality rate, and they have given her five months for the infection to clear. Then she has to get on a waiting list, for two years, to get new lungs,” he said.

The bills are piling up and crushing. “It’s $922 a day after insurance. It is $28,000 a month with 23 grants from the pharmaceutical companies…Sunset Ministries is helping us to do the fund raisers. Bill and Jennifer Townsend, owners of Riley’s on the Backbone, are also a big help, hosting the concert and the food. Giveback Auctions of San Antonio is helping with the auctions.”

And auctions there are, silent and live, with jerseys with autographs like one with Steph Curry. “Some are low (priced) and some are high.” But this benefit means the world to Chef Jodie; he is giving away his own Harley Davidson, with delivery for free in the U.S.

“It’s a 2002 Harley Davidson Night Train, big bore…it’s strong, loud and fast.”

The raffles include Happy Hour for 50 people, Hank Williams Junior’s signed guitar, a South African Safari Hunt for four, a margarita party for one hundred, and other wonderful offerings.

“Eight bands will play, with a silent auction all day, auctions between bands, a reverse raffle at 6 p.m.…and the last drawing will be for the motorcycle,” he said.

For more information can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/k4f9v-savemy-daughter039s-life