Operation BBQ Relief - Response to COVID-19
Tax deductible
Hello, My name is Stan Hays, Co-Founder and CEO for Operation BBQ Relief. Operation BBQ Relief is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that will be deploying to provide the healing power of BBQ to communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As shelter orders are in place throughout the country, there are shortages of supplies and volunteers for communities and charities that need to rely on the bandwidth and resources of Operation BBQ Relief.
Operation BBQ Relief is equipped to provide the healing power of BBQ in other places throughout the United States and stay within Center for Disease Control guidelines regarding group gatherings. This initial effort in Kansas City will provide a template for feeding communities in more areas as the country faces additional challenges as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic is isolating and frightening for everyone and we hope that we can ease some of the suffering of our most vulnerable populations.
Operation BBQ Relief has launched a new program called the “Operation Restaurant Relief”. This program, will benefit communities in many ways. Operation BBQ Relief will provide the restaurant with the food and some of the necessary supplies to cook 2500 meals per day. These meals will be served by the restaurant to its community focusing on getting them to those in need. The current plan with this pilot restaurant is for it to run for 14 days. Along with the food and some supplies, Operation BBQ Relief will pay the restaurant a set amount so the restaurant can rehire some previously laid-off employees.
We are currently feeding over 200,000 meals per week in 6 states across America; within the next 10 days, we will be increasing our numbers to 540,000 meals.
This program, along with serving the one hot meal that matters to those in need, may also have the added benefit of keeping a restaurant from going bankrupt during this time. Additionally, we hope it helps its employees that may not qualify for unemployment benefits in one of the hardest hit industries across the USA, the hospitality and restaurant industry. Of course, this program will also help provide much needed meals to seniors, families with members that have been laid off, and other vulnerable populations. This Operation BBQ Relief program is meant to keep restaurants from going out of business, help workers, and feed the community.
We need your help. Funding for this program is critical. With your help, we can reach more people, connect with more foundations and companies that want to help, and ultimately get more meals to those in need! Please email [email redacted] with suggestions for support.
Operation BBQ Relief provides compassion, hope, and friendship to individuals and organizations affected by COVID -19.
For more information, visit www.obr.org
Media inquiries, email [email redacted]
About Operation BBQ Relief
Operation BBQ Relief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization started by champion barbecue pitmasters that has grown to become the nation’s premier charity in providing hot meals following natural disasters. Operation BBQ Relief combines its expertise in cooking and catering BBQ meals with its ability to quickly mobilize teams into any area where disaster disrupts the lives of families and communities.
“Since we started The Always Serving Project in 2019, our mission has evolved and includes providing compassion and a warm meal to veterans, first responders, military men and women, and the homeless in need at any time, not just during a disaster,” stated Stan Hays, Co-Founder and CEO of Operation BBQ Relief. “By working with our friends at like-minded organizations, we can do our small part in helping those in need. This is a very difficult time for our country with many unknowns.”
Earlier in 2019, Operation BBQ Relief promoted Jarrid “Jay” Collins to Chief of Programs. He spent his career in the Army, as a Green Beret in special forces leadership roles, and is bringing that forged-under-fire leadership to Operation BBQ Relief on a daily basis as we respond to this crisis. Working with Stan Hays, a CNN Hero from 2017, Collins has developed The Always Serving Project into a year-round effort and leads the OBR operations team.
Operation BBQ Relief is equipped to provide the healing power of BBQ in other places throughout the United States and stay within Center for Disease Control guidelines regarding group gatherings. This initial effort in Kansas City will provide a template for feeding communities in more areas as the country faces additional challenges as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic is isolating and frightening for everyone and we hope that we can ease some of the suffering of our most vulnerable populations.
Operation BBQ Relief has launched a new program called the “Operation Restaurant Relief”. This program, will benefit communities in many ways. Operation BBQ Relief will provide the restaurant with the food and some of the necessary supplies to cook 2500 meals per day. These meals will be served by the restaurant to its community focusing on getting them to those in need. The current plan with this pilot restaurant is for it to run for 14 days. Along with the food and some supplies, Operation BBQ Relief will pay the restaurant a set amount so the restaurant can rehire some previously laid-off employees.
We are currently feeding over 200,000 meals per week in 6 states across America; within the next 10 days, we will be increasing our numbers to 540,000 meals.
This program, along with serving the one hot meal that matters to those in need, may also have the added benefit of keeping a restaurant from going bankrupt during this time. Additionally, we hope it helps its employees that may not qualify for unemployment benefits in one of the hardest hit industries across the USA, the hospitality and restaurant industry. Of course, this program will also help provide much needed meals to seniors, families with members that have been laid off, and other vulnerable populations. This Operation BBQ Relief program is meant to keep restaurants from going out of business, help workers, and feed the community.
We need your help. Funding for this program is critical. With your help, we can reach more people, connect with more foundations and companies that want to help, and ultimately get more meals to those in need! Please email [email redacted] with suggestions for support.
Operation BBQ Relief provides compassion, hope, and friendship to individuals and organizations affected by COVID -19.
For more information, visit www.obr.org
Media inquiries, email [email redacted]
About Operation BBQ Relief
Operation BBQ Relief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization started by champion barbecue pitmasters that has grown to become the nation’s premier charity in providing hot meals following natural disasters. Operation BBQ Relief combines its expertise in cooking and catering BBQ meals with its ability to quickly mobilize teams into any area where disaster disrupts the lives of families and communities.
“Since we started The Always Serving Project in 2019, our mission has evolved and includes providing compassion and a warm meal to veterans, first responders, military men and women, and the homeless in need at any time, not just during a disaster,” stated Stan Hays, Co-Founder and CEO of Operation BBQ Relief. “By working with our friends at like-minded organizations, we can do our small part in helping those in need. This is a very difficult time for our country with many unknowns.”
Earlier in 2019, Operation BBQ Relief promoted Jarrid “Jay” Collins to Chief of Programs. He spent his career in the Army, as a Green Beret in special forces leadership roles, and is bringing that forged-under-fire leadership to Operation BBQ Relief on a daily basis as we respond to this crisis. Working with Stan Hays, a CNN Hero from 2017, Collins has developed The Always Serving Project into a year-round effort and leads the OBR operations team.
Organizer
Sharon Green
Organizer
Shawnee, KS
Operation BBQ Relief
Beneficiary