From the Heart

September 2021

Message from the Co-Founders

Operation BBQ Relief has deployed over 80 times and each time we are amazed by the incredible sponsors, donors, volunteers, and staff who jump into action in a moment’s notice. We have sponsors delivering food by the truck loads. Sponsors who immediately lend their supplies and equipment. Volunteers who closed their restaurants to travel 14 hours to share the healing power of BBQ.

Operation BBQ Relief served 10,019 meals to communities affected by the flooding in Waverly, TN and 247,055 meals following Hurricane Ida in Louisiana. Operation BBQ Relief airlifted 70,000 meals to hard hit areas in Houma, LA where the town was decimated. Drive-thru lunch and dinner services were set up for families and organizations in both Waverly, TN and Hammond, LA.

The Operation BBQ Relief team met many families that were deeply grateful for our support. Barbara picked up meals for her two young boys and neighbors. She shared her gratitude and said her neighbor was dying with cancer. They hated each other for years over petty little things. When she shared the meals from Operation BBQ Relief with her neighbor, they cried and made amends. They hugged for the first time in years as she said her neighbor hadn’t eaten in days and that single act of kindness of sharing the one hot meal that matters made all the negativity go away.

This story is one of the millions that highlight the powerful impact of the healing power of BBQ.

Major hurricanes have been forecasted for the upcoming month. We will need volunteers and donations to continue to share the one hot meal that matters.

Please reach out to us at info@obr.org if you have any leads on individuals, companies, and organizations that may be interested in getting involved.

Much respect,

Stan Hays, CEO
Will Cleaver, CPO and Head of Finance

In the News

Good Morning America – After Hurricane Ida, Operation BBQ delivers hot meals and a helping hand

World News Tonight – David Muir

Volunteer Experience Team

Volunteers are the most critical component of all non-profits. Without volunteers, Operation BBQ Relief would not function or exist.

Over the past several years of growth and change, Operation BBQ Relief has improved on several aspects of the volunteer experience. Whether at an event or deployment, we want to make sure each volunteer is taking care of and time is well spent. We strive to provide an experience in which volunteers leave wanting to continue to further the mission of the Operation BBQ Relief.

We are in the process of creating a Volunteer Experience team to improve areas like signing up on our website or app through participation at an event or deployment. The key focus would address how volunteers would feel valued and if the volunteer experience is positive. Operation BBQ Relief is committed to making improvements until these goals are met.

Please know my phone and email are always available to you. I want to hear the good, the bad, and your opinion on how we can do better. Please don’t hesitate to call. Without direct feedback, we won’t be able to make improvements.

Will Cleaver
CPO and Head of Finance
wcleaver@obr.org
913-226-6972

Volunteer App Update

Operation BBQ Relief Under Armour Boonie

Click here to purchase:
https://operationbbqrelief.org/store/Drawstring-Boonie-Cap-p378208718

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