Operation BBQ Relief Bringing 1,000 Hot Meals To Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Operation BBQ Relief is returning to Toms River to serve hot meals to residents in need.

The meal distribution is set for noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Presbyterian Church of Toms River, 1070 Hooper Ave., and was coordinated through the Hope Center, a nonprofit organization initiated by the Clergy Association of Greater Toms River to help the needy.

The meals will be delivered drive-through style, with the meals placed in the bed or the trunk of the vehicle.

This will be the fourth time that Operation BBQ Relief has helped Toms River. They served meals to Superstorm Sandy victims and came to town on two other occasions to serve needy families in 2018 and 2019.

"We are so happy to be helping out our town and our neighbors," said David Keith, area coordinator for New Jersey. "It is amazing to see what a hot meal can do to nourish the soul. We are grateful we are able to do this again and look forward to a great day."

"Operation BBQ Relief has been providing hot meals to residents in need in the Jersey Shore area throughout the pandemic," Mayor Maurice B. Hill said. "We are very thankful that they will be providing hot meals to the residents of Toms River on November 14th, particularly as we near the Thanksgiving holiday."

Operation BBQ Relief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in May 2011 in response to a need for tornado relief efforts in Joplin, Missouri. Competitive pit masters from eight different states answered the call to feed displaced families and first responders. Together, they were able to serve over 120,000 meals in a 13-day period.

To date, Operation BBQ Relief has provided more than 8 million meals, including more than 5 million in 2020 in 30 states, following natural disasters and through The Always Serving Project, benefiting the homeless, first responders, veterans, and service men and women.

The Hope Center is a a 501(c)(3) organization and provides support, resources, referrals, and food to clients as they work to overcome a current life crisis.

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