Many Texans were surprised by mother nature’s extremities in the previous week when an overwhelming winter storm shut down most of the state and left it without power, water, and food.
As Houstonians are recovering from the storm, a group of BBQ aficionados led by CEO Stan Hays are doing their part to help feed hungry families through what is being called the Operation BBQ Relief initiative. The group is known for their involvement in the annual BBQ cookoff competition that takes place at the city’s rodeo.
Armed with 24 volunteers and a few sponsors, the group is planning on giving away about 10,000 meals a day. The pitmasters have been prepping for a large food drive in Houston’s Montrose area on Monday with the intention of feeding thousands of people. The meals, cooked on 25-foot smokers, will include pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, along with a healthy serving of traditional barbecue sides such as baked beans, spicy green beans, and rice.
“The barbecue family steps up, whether it’s a local restaurant, competitive barbecuers, or backyard enthusiasts,” Hayes said in an interview. “Whether it’s a time of celebration or a time of need, barbecue is comfort food — and people who cook barbecue just have that heart for giving.”
Other barbecue lovers have also contributed to helping Houstonians. Pearland’s Ronnie Killen’s of Killen’s Barbecue gave away 6,000 meals consisting of burgers, breakfast tacos and brisket sandwiches.
Funded by hip hop label 1501 Certified Ent., BossLife Foundation and World Central Kitchen, Cory Crawford, brother and business partner to entrepreneur and former MLB player Carl Crawford, oversaw his family’s restaurant, Burns Original Bar-B-Que, in the delivery of 5,600 barbecue dinners handed out at a food drive in the predominately Black community known as Acres Homes on Sunday.
“Some of them said they were still without power and hadn’t had a hot meal in days,” Crawford said. “People desperately needed those meals. It was a blessing to us that we could provide for them. We touched people who had a need.”
Who knew that one’s natural gift and love for the grill would come in handy for thousands of people!
