Operation BBQ Relief North Florida Volunteer Opportunities

[Jim White]

Hi folks.

This was in an email I got yesterday from OBR:

Hello Operation BBQ Relief Volunteer:
Operation BBQ Relief has deployed to North Florida in the wake of Hurricane Idalia. We are now providing the one hot meal that matters to those impacted by the hurricane, emergency personnel, and other volunteers. We are currently producing in excess of 20,000 meals a day and urgently need more volunteer support.

The deployment site is only a 40 minute drive from my home in Gainesville. I have signed up for Monday and Tuesday for now. When I signed up, it looked as though they were looking for more than 50 folks, so I think that they weren't exaggerating on the urgent need for more volunteers. It appears that they intend to be at that site through the entire month of September.

If anyone wants to come and join the work, I'm happy to open our home to those who want to leave motel rooms in the area for other workers and volunteers. The 40 minute drive does mean getting up early for the 6 am shift, but it's all about helping people in need. We have a queen size bed in our guest room plus a fold out or an air bed in another room. First come, first served for anyone who wants the space.
If you have already deployed with OBR before, you know the drill and can sign up on their volunteer app. For those who want to join in for the first time, the OBR website is a good place to start, as there are a few forms to fill out before you are cleared to work. As they say on the site and app, don't deploy on your own but go through their system so everything works smoothly.

[DavidNorcross]

Wish I could make this happen. Thank you for doing this Jim.

[mrteddyprincess]

Nice job, Jim. Keep us updated. B

[RonB]

It's just too far for me to drive Jim. I wish I could join you. Despite the work, it's still fun, and I never got a tee shirt the last time...

[Jim White]

We’ll miss you. I’m going to wear a shirt I got from them.

[smokenoob]

Jim
does BBQ relief have a go fund me page?

[Jim White]

There is a link for donations at their website.

[DaveD]

Good onya Jim. "Always look for the helpers..."

[Jim White]

Over 700 pork loins sliced, sauced and cambroed in batches of 150 servings. Comes to 30,000 servings prepped in about 3 and a half hours.

First pic is the safety meeting required before we started. Second is the aftermath.

[Finster]

Holy cow. That’s a whole lot of servings in not a whole lot of time.
AMAZING!!

[Jim White]

I count 10 of these huge Ole Hickory pits.


The logistics are staggering. Here you see cambros being delivered by forklift to various vehicles for distribution. Food is going as far as Cedar Key and Horseshoe Beach.

[Sid P]

Good for you, Jim 👍👍👏👏.

[Jim White]

Welp, I’m back home now. Turns out that during the five years since my last deployment, I don’t have the stamina for their up to 14 hour commitment for a full day. I did what I could, with lots of breaks. I even left before they served the prime rib that was going to be dinner. I cancelled my commitment for tomorrow, too, but hope to return for at least one more day while they are there. It looks like they plan to be there through the end of September.

Also, for clarification, the site is a bit over a one hour drive from my house, but my offer still stands for anyone who wants a place to stay.

[smokenoob]

gave it your all, walk tall!
(when you wake up )

[Donw]

I so relate to this. I use to be the first to arrive and the last one to leave for a lot of volunteer events. I just can’t do that anymore but I still give it my all while I’m there. It sucks to grow older but even us old farts can still be useful. Proud of you Jim.

[acorgihouse]

Thanks for what you provided. I'm looking at my full work schedule through Sept, and wondering if I could manage to work in a few days. I'm about two hours from BHGS "The Swamp", so guessing three or so from the site. My nephew in Spring Hill is working round the clock, but I might be able to rope his wife into helping. I don't know right now, we are short handed at work, but thanks for the heads up. I don't know much about the org, going there now, but I sure am in disaster territory.

[Brian_M]

Just want to bump this.

OBR is still in need of volunteers on the ground.

If anyone knows anyone who might like to volunteer and is in the area or could make the drive, please pass this along. Individuals, groups, any volunteers would be hugely appreciated.

Jim White, isn’t it awesome to see all the logistical stuff come together? The semi trailers of food, and supplies, and loads of propane and everything?

[Jim White]

Thanks, Brian. They certainly are short on volunteers. In addition to OBR volunteers, there were a handful of folks from the Hy-Vee grocery chain and a few from Verizon. But I’m sure we would have fallen well short of getting everything done had it not been for the 10-15 Army National Guard folks there working their butts off.