King of the Smoker BBQ Competiton To Benefit Operation BBQ Relief
La Quinta, California (PRWEB) December 05, 2013 -- Operation BBQ Relief, a Missouri based non-profit charity will benefit from food vendor sales at one of the most prestigious invitational BBQ competions in the United States. The very best in BBQ were invited to compete at this unique competition on December 6th and 7th, 2013. The King of the Smoker competition will be located at the beautiful La Quinta Resort in La Quinta, CA and will feature some of the top names in BBQ. 24 big BBQ names will be competing for $50,000 and the title of, “King of the Smoker.”
Sterling Ball, owner of Big Poppa’s Smokers and host of the King of the Smoker competition chose Operation BBQ Relief to be the receive the proceeds from all food vendor sales because of their work helping the victims of disasters over the past 30 months. “I’ve followed Operation BBQ Relief from their beginning during the aftermath of the tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri in 2011, says Sterling Ball about why selected Operation BBQ Relief. “I went to Moore, Oklahoma and check them out in the trenches. It was the very best example of the quality of people that make up the BBQ community,” he continued. Not only will Operation BBQ Relief will receive the total gross proceeds from food vending, Mr Ball will match all funds earned by Operation BBQ Relief.
Operation BBQ Relief is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation founded in May 2011 in response to a need for relief efforts in tornado-stricken Joplin, Missouri. On Sunday evening, May 22, a massive multi-vortex EF5 tornado plowed through the southwest Missouri community of about 50,000 residents, killing over 140 people and injuring more than 1000. It left a path of almost total destruction six miles long and over half a mile wide. It is now classified as the second deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
In the wake of this nearly unprecedented destruction, competition barbecue teams from eight states answered the call to help feed displaced families and emergency personnel including police, fire, and the National Guard. The group, headed by Stan Hays (County Line Smokers), Jeff Stith (Big Creek BBQ) and Will Cleaver (Sticks N Chicks BBQ), was able to serve over 120,000 barbecue meals in less than two weeks during the operation in Joplin. Food was served from our location in the community and delivered to shelters, hospitals, senior living communities and the Humane Society. Volunteers also loaded food into vehicles and delivered directly to families in the impacted areas within the tornado’s footprint. The operation was made possible by many businesses who contributed food and supplies and people from across the country who donated cash.
As a result of efforts in Joplin, Operation BBQ Relief was born. The Joplin operation will be used as a model for future disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods and other tornados. We are a not-for-profit corporation registered in all fifty states and ready to respond to natural disaster emergencies across the United States.
Operation BBQ Relief has served over 500,000 meals since starting in Joplin, Missouri in May, 2011.
David Marks, Operation BBQ Relief, http://www.wilbursrevenge.com, +1 610-564-0885, [email protected]
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