Amazing progress is being made at Camp OBR, Operation BBQ Relief’s 190-acre Healing Place on the Lake of the Ozarks built to serve our Military, Veterans, Families of the Fallen, First Responders, and their families. Check out the progress in our new cabin and culinary education center areas. To learn more, visit www.campobr.org! The post Camp OBR Update – April 2024 first appeared on Operation BBQ Relief ..read more

Camp OBR was alive with energy as our incredible team of staff and volunteers came together for a work weekend like no other! We want to give a huge shoutout to all the amazing folks who joined us, including our buddies from @movets_outdoors, and our volunteers Randy Hartmann, Steve Anderson, and Gene Boldman. Their dedication and hard work made a world of difference as we tackled everything from building fences to putting together furniture. And let’s not forget our local heroes from the Lakeview Heights Fire Protection District, who helped us out by safely conducting a prescribed burn on ..read more

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, an EF3 tornado ripped through Logan County, Ohio, killing three people and leaving a path of destruction in its wake. In less than 24 hours, we were on the ground in Russells Point, Ohio providing meals to first responders, residents, and relief workers impacted by the tornado. In all, we provided 1,326 meals over three days. Huge thanks to our partner, Blue Dog BBQ, and our dedicated area coordinators, Dave Meyer and Chris Dyer, for their swift action. With their crucial help, we brought the Healing Power of BBQ to this community. As one local resident said, “Th ..read more

Tom “Doc” Barowsky first heard about Operation BBQ Relief in 2015 when he was competing in a Kansas City Barbeque Society competition in North Carolina., where he was then living. “At the time I was running a one-physician practice and could not participate in deployments,” Doc said. “Once I retired from practice in 2017, I wanted to continue to serve those in need. Because of my love for all things barbecue and my desire to help those in need, OBR seemed like a perfect fit.” Shortly after retirement, Doc moved to Colorado. However, when Hurricane Florence landed a blow to the East Coast in ..read more

On Feb. 29, 2024, Operation BBQ Relief embarked on a unique deployment to the Texas Panhandle amidst the chaos of the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest wildfire ever recorded in Texas, and neighboring blazes. Our mission was clear: to provide hot meals and hope to those affected. We teamed up with local restaurants and food trucks, equipping them with supplies and materials. Together, we delivered the “One Hot Meal That Matters” to residents, first responders, and relief workers during these devastating fires. Over five days, our partners distributed 5,020 meals, offering comfort and nouris ..read more

Gene Boldman first heard about Operation BBQ Relief in 2021 at a Kansas City Barbeque Society competition and was immediately drawn to our mission to feed communities after disasters and enrich the lives of heroes every day. “I’m retired and was looking for a way to give back, and also add a sense of purpose to help fill time,” Gene said. He first volunteered with us on a deployment to help those impacted by a tornado in Mayfield, Ky. in 2021. “I applied for 2 days. Once I hit the ground I was welcomed and felt needed. I added another 2 days and realized this was a great fit for me,” Gene sa ..read more

Earlier this week, we brought you updates on Camp OBR’s bathhouse and cabins. Today, we invite you to take a tour of our Culinary Education Center with our CEO/Co-Founder Stan Hays! Camp OBR is a 190-acre Healing Place on the Lake of the Ozarks built to serve our Military, Veterans, Families of the Fallen, First Responders, and their families. If you have any questions about Camp OBR, or suggestions of things you would like to see more of in our updates, please drop them in the comments below! To learn more about Camp OBR, visit www.campobr.org! The post Camp OBR – Culinary Education Cent ..read more

Yesterday, we brought you on a tour of Camp OBR’s new bathhouse. Today, check out the progress made on our new cabins! We can’t wait to host Military, Veterans, Families of the Fallen, First Responders, and their families at Camp OBR later this year. To learn more, visit www.campobr.org. The post Camp OBR – Cabins first appeared on Operation BBQ Relief ..read more

We had another big week at Camp OBR, a 190-acre healing place at Lake of the Ozarks where our Military, Veterans, Families of the Fallen, and First Responders reconnect, find renewed purpose, and build lasting memories with their families and peers. Take a virtual tour of the new bathhouse with CEO and Co-Founder Stan Hays, then visit www.campobr.org to learn more. Stay tuned to see other exciting developments at Camp OBR! The post Camp OBR – Bathhouse first appeared on Operation BBQ Relief ..read more

On the weekend of Feb. 16-18, 2024, Operation BBQ Relief partnered with MO Vets Outdoors to host a group of military veterans at Camp OBR, our 190-acre retreat on The Lake of the Ozarks. While at Camp OBR, their group enjoyed fishing and other outdoor activities. Our talented pitmasters also taught them valuable barbecue skills. We were honored to support MO Vets Outdoors’ mission to get veterans out of their houses and into the outdoors to help with mental health and suicide prevention. We look forward to future collaborations! The post Camp OBR – MO Vets Fishing Event first appe ..read more