When the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered restaurants and strained communities, OBR stepped in with Operation Restaurant Relief™. Partnering with 27 restaurants across eight states, we kept doors open, put staff back to work, and served more than 4.7 million meals to first responders, medical workers, veterans, and families in need. What began as an emergency response has become a model of how BBQ can bring hope, jobs, and nourishment when it’s needed most.
What We Do
Operation Restaurant Relief ™ (ORR) brings communities together by empowering local restaurants to reopen, rehire, and serve those in need. This initiative, established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is about more than just meals — it’s about providing hope and stability to restaurant workers and their communities during challenging times.
OBR partners with closed restaurants, utilizing their kitchens and staff to prepare meals for the community.
Restaurants receive a small stipend to facilitate reopening and help rehire laid-off employees.
OBR provides the food and necessary supplies, ensuring restaurants can focus on preparing meals efficiently.
Meals are distributed in collaboration with national and local organizations to support homeless individuals, veterans, first responders, individuals facing food insecurity, and healthcare professionals.
