Operation BBQ Relief (OBR) - Update on Hurricane Ian from Port Charlotte, FL

[Huskee]

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From: Stan Hays <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, October 14, 2022 at 3:28 PM
To: <undisclosed-recipients:;>
Subject: Update on Hurricane Ian from Port Charlotte, FL

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Partners, Sponsors, and Supporters (You are receiving this as a BCC but intended for you) Feel free to forward to others.
Operation BBQ Relief hit the 10 millionth milestone on October 10th. As I reflect about reaching our 10 millionth meal, I think back to the very first meals that we cooked following the Joplin tornado. We were just a group of competition pitmasters that wanted to make a difference in the community.

We had no idea that those first meals would multiply to be over 10 million meals today. We never thought we would hit 1 million meals or 2 million meals or 5 millions - let alone, 10 million meals. It’s been humbling to receive congratulations for our 10 millionth meal and the emotions are just as strong with our 10 million meal as it was our very first meal.

I was in Port Charlotte, FL with our team as we handed out the 10 millionth meal and it was amazing to witness the dedication and camaraderie of our volunteers - volunteers that were volunteering for the very first time and volunteers that were with us for a 10th deployment. When we first started Operation BBQ Relief, our goal was to feed the community following natural disasters. After serving over 10 million meals, we are honored to witness how a hot meal has not only impacted the recipient but also the lives of volunteers and staff preparing the meals and handing out the meals. The emotions, the gratitude, the Operation BBQ Relief experience has been our driving force since day 1 in Joplin and we are honored not only to have celebrated 10 million meals but also to pass on this legacy of being a force for good to thousands of supporters along the way.

Today, we will have served the one hot meal that matters over 400,000 times since Hurricane Ian hit. That makes this deployment the second largest we have done since May of 2011. It appears we will be in Florida a few more weeks. As you might imagine many people are still without power and the islands off the coast it will take years to rebuild those islands. Below is a story from one of our volunteers that highlights the powerful impact of sharing the ONE hot meal that matters. #thehealingpowerofbbq

Thank you for your support and commitment to help reach the 10 millionth meal milestone and serve over 400,000 hot meals to communities following Hurricane Ian. Please donate or register to volunteer at OBR.org and share our social media pages @opbbqrelief

-Stan Hays

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“I was getting dropped off at the airport in Sarasota to head back home to Missouri after a long week of 6 AM mornings and some late nights of cooking the one hot meal that matters. I made it through security and had two hours before my flight home. I decided to walk into one of the airport restaurants here and get some breakfast and a drink.
I sat between two gentlemen, one who made conversation about why we were traveling. I explained that I'm from Missouri and came down to help cook meals for disaster survivors and first responders. The other man sitting next to me overheard our conversation and with tears in his eyes, offered to buy my drink and breakfast.
We started talking and he was from Englewood, FL. He told me that he lost everything. His car, RV and home were completely gone. He had been bathing in the ocean and staying in a home that was barely standing with a gun laying on his chest because the looters were tearing through his neighborhood. He didn't care about what possessions he had left. He was just scared for his life. He did not know where his next hot meal was going to come from or where he was going to go from there. He heard that there was an operation serving individual meals out of Englewood, FL and made it to the meal site that Operation BBQ Relief was set up. Our meal was his ONLY hot meal. He had finally made it to the airport to fly home to New Jersey to be with his family. He was leaving what was left of his life here in Florida behind.
After slipping the waiter my card for both tabs, I stood up and gave him a hug in the middle of the airport. I do not know his name, but he will forever have a place in my heart.
The experience reminded me again why we do what we do here at Operation BBQ Relief.
This week, Operation BBQ Relief hit our 10 millionth meal since 2011 when the Joplin tornado hit. I am so happy to be a small part of something so amazing.”

Kirstie Withrow
Volunteer
Operation BBQ Relief

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[Clark]

What a fantastic organization!! It shows that our society has not turned completely rotten, as we are often led to believe.

If I was a bit younger and w/o my arthritis/orthopedic problems I would volunteer in a heartbeat.

[Michael_in_TX]

Absolutely astonishing organization and I have been in awe of them ever since I learned of them. 400,000 meals (and counting!) for one disaster. And to do this for such a long period of time requires significant sacrifices from the volunteers, I am sure. (And in less than ideal conditions.)

I often feel somewhat disconnected from the charities and philanthropic organizations I support, but not Operation BBQ Relief. (Probably as I've been in several disasters.)

I'm trying to get it so I can donate more and also more regularly than I do. After all, it is not out of the question that I might need them someday.

[WayneT]

Thanks Huskee, and all BBR volunteers, for what you do to bring some sense of normalcy to shattered homes, dreams and lives. Y’all rock! Bravo and Brava!

[randy.56]

As most of you know we support this fantastic organization, Some people are able to give there time and people can give some money. It takes both. The great story that Kristie told is only one of 400,000

[Meathead]

Here is a video of the Florida operation. Remember, you support them because we donate to them every month and have done so since they were founded in 2011.

[WayneT]

Well done!

[ILMsmoke]

My area was a direct hit in Florence. This group help supplement the relief effort my church organized to feed thousands of people per day! We couldn't produce enough and they filled every supply gap!