As search and recovery efforts continue in the wake of the devastating Independence Day Flood in Kerrville, Texas, volunteer groups like Operation BBQ Relief have stepped up in a major way. With over 2,000 rescue workers and flood victims needing sustenance daily, the group has served nearly 10,000 hot meals—4,400 of them on Thursday alone.
Breitbart Texas spoke with Steve Anderson, Area Coordinator for Operation BBQ Relief, who said the organization is operating at full capacity with plans to expand further into the outskirts of Kerrville. A new meat smoker is being brought in to meet the rising demand for food among both emergency responders and displaced residents.
Operation BBQ Relief was founded in 2011 during tornado recovery in Joplin, Missouri, and has since served over 11 million meals following natural disasters across the U.S. and internationally. The non-profit, powered by volunteers and supported by major sponsors—including a national insurance company and several big-box retailers—operates as a 501(c)(3) charity.
Anderson emphasized that ongoing support from donors and volunteers is critical. “Our sponsors make it possible to serve thousands of meals daily,” he said. Those interested in contributing can find information and sponsor listings on the group’s official website.
Kerrville is one of many areas devastated by what is now considered one of the deadliest floods in Texas history. As of Friday, 129 people have died across six counties, and more than 160 remain missing. President Donald Trump visited the flood-stricken area on Friday, touring the damage and meeting with local officials and volunteers.
Operation BBQ Relief is just one of several charitable organizations providing food and support. Others include the American Red Cross, Mercy Chefs, the Fraternal Order of Police, and local restaurants—all playing vital roles in sustaining exhausted recovery crews and survivors.
The mission remains urgent as families continue searching for missing loved ones and communities face the long road to rebuilding.
