MONTVALE—Operation BBQ Relief, a nonprofit organization that supports communities following a natural disaster with hot meals to those in need and on the front lines, will be distributing hot meals in Montvale on Saturday, Dec. 18 from noon to 3 p.m. while supplies last.
People in need are encouraged to come by Montvale Senior/Community Center and pick up a meal.
The organization says distribution is part of its national Days of Giving program.
Operation BBQ Relief, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in May 2011 in response to a need for tornado relief efforts in Joplin, Mo. Competitive pitmasters and grillmasters from eight states answered the call to feed displaced families and first responders. Together, they served more than 120,000 meals in a 13-day period.
“The mission of Operation BBQ Relief continues as natural disasters including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires continue to disrupt and destroy communities,” the organization said in its invitation.
Operation BBQ Relief closely monitors impending natural disasters throughout the United States, staging and deploying assets to serve as soon as possible, usually within 24 to 48 hours.
We asked the organization why they chose Montvale this weekend. A spokesperson replied that Operation BBQ Relief has been involved on the East Coast since deploying for Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
“The team on the ground served 102,200 hot BBQ meals throughout New York and New Jersey during their 12-day deployment. Keeping in touch with the communities affected by Hurricane Sandy, we returned to Montvale to share the healing power of BBQ with those in need of a hot meal this holiday season through our national Days of Giving program,” the spokesperson said.
Editor’s note: We edited this piece hours after we published it, on Dec. 17, to reflect new hours of operation on Saturday, Dec. 18, as given by Operation BBQ Relief.