September 11, 2001 our country was brutally attacked by cowardly terrorists. After watching the news of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers and the Pentagon, many American looked for ways other than prayer to help their fellow countrymen.

Inspired by the story of Bill M, a New York Corrections Officer scheduled to return home from New Orleans on September 11 Erin Chaisson, her five children, family and friends raised almost $29,000 for the American Red Cross. When Erin went to present the money they had raised, her brother Shawn Bradley stayed behind to cook for the family.

To Shawn just raising money wasn't enough. He felt he could still do more. While watching a news report that the Rescue Workers were eating hamburgers, Shawn realized how he could support the rescue efforts...he could cook. He called his wife Danielle and shared his plan to drive to New York to cook gumbo for the Rescue Workers. Danielle immediately started preparing for the trip. The local media featured a story on the group preparing to leave for New York, one supporter called and asked if he was speaking to the Gumbo Krewe... the name stuck. On September 19 the Gumbo Krewe made their first trip from New Orleans to New York.

As our motto reads, the Gumbo Krewe is "Serving our Country by Serving our Country."