From the Heart
March 2021
Message from the Co-Founders
Operation BBQ Relief has been very busy sharing the healing power of BBQ. We deployed to North Carolina and Texas to provide hope, friendship, and compassion to families affected by the tornado and winter snowstorm.
On February 24, 2021, Operation BBQ Relief served our 9 millionth meal with Mayor Sylvester Turner during our drive-thru pick up distribution in Houston. The celebration highlighted the importance of ensuring the healing power of BBQ is accessible to all including individuals with disabilities and the elderly. We extend our gratitude to volunteers, sponsors, and supporters that helped Operation BBQ Relief reach the 9 millionth meal milestone!
Operation BBQ Relief continues to connect, inspire, serve, educate, and feed through The Always Serving Project programs. We have provided meals to frontline workers and the National Guard at mass vaccination clinics. We continue to provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner to homeless veterans in Kansas City. Our virtual cooking segments will be launched in the upcoming weeks. We hope you can join us on Facebook @opbbqrelief to learn techniques and tips from our amazing culinary team.
We look forward to seeing many of you at our 10th Anniversary celebration in Kansas City on May 24, 2021! We only have a few foursomes remaining for the Celebrity BBQ Academy and Golf Classic! Please sign up soon to reserve your spot!
Much respect,
Stan Hays, CEO
Will Cleaver, CPO and Head of Finance
Operation BBQ Relief provided 37,000 hot BBQ meals in response to Winter Storm Uri in Houston! Watch highlights from our 9 millionth meal celebration.
Operation BBQ Relief on the Today Show
Operation BBQ Relief teamed up with Lowe’s Home Improvement and Certified Angus Beef to support families in Austin, TX affected by the winter snowstorm. The meal distribution was highlighted on the Today Show with Al Roker.
The Healing Power of BBQ
“I was sitting in traffic in Waco, TX in the Operation BBQ Relief van with the windows down and a gentleman pulled up next to me in a pickup truck from a utility company. The gentleman said he just wanted to thank me for everything Operation BBQ Relief does. He shared that he had been the recipient of meals prepared by Operation BBQ Relief while he was on jobs after major storms. He said Operation BBQ Relief was a great organization and mentioned to keep up the good work. I am a former power lineman and this encounter pulled at my heartstrings. I feel very privileged to be a part of Operation BBQ Relief. Thanks for the opportunity!”
Dale Mulford, Volunteer
Mike Golic – National Spokesperson
Operation BBQ Relief is proud to announce sports legend Mike Golic, Sr. as its national spokesperson.
Mike Golic, former nine-year NFL veteran and radio host for ESPN’s “Mike & Mike,” will bring awareness to the mission of Operation BBQ Relief on the national level as its official spokesperson. Passionate about barbecue and serving his community, Golic will support Operation BBQ Relief’s disaster relief and The Always Serving Project programs.
“Operation BBQ Relief has touched so many lives in so many communities across the country,” said Mike Golic. “Every day, they focus on how they can help someone else in need with the healing power of a hot meal. After learning more about this organization and their passion for barbecue, this was a perfect fit for me; and I knew I wanted to be involved. It is a true honor to be a part of their team and I look forward to supporting them in any way I can.”
Operation BBQ Relief will be hosting our first Celebrity BBQ Academy & Golf Classic fundraiser on Monday, May 24, 2021 in Kansas City. Join us as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Operation BBQ Relief!
Come hungry and get ready for a fun-filled day to further the mission of Operation BBQ Relief.
Live Segments on Facebook
The Operation BBQ Relief Culinary team will be filming live segments on Facebook in the upcoming weeks.
Please join our Facebook page at @opbbqrelief to watch these delicious recipes.
Live Segment Schedule
March 31st – Trash Can Nachos – great recipe for the Final Four game watch
April 7th – “National Beer Day” – Smoked Beer Can Chicken
April 14th – “National Pecan Day” – Smoked Pecan Pie topped with cinnamon ice cream and caramel drizzle
April 21st – “National Banana Day” – Grilled Dessert Pizza with bananas and Nutella
Operation BBQ Relief – Behind the Scenes
Operation BBQ Relief staff and volunteers worked on the maintenance of equipment and build out of the new support trailer. Their efforts keep our infrastructure running and ensures the success of future deployments and programs. Thank you Team OBR!!
Operation BBQ Relief YouTube Channel
Operation BBQ Relief needs your help as we grow our YouTube channel. Please visit our YouTube channel and click Subscribe! The channel has numerous videos that will highlight volunteers, deployments, programs, and recipes!
https://www.youtube.com/user/Operationbbqrelief
Corporate Supporters
