Operation BBQ Relief Comes to Town

Bootlegger’s BBQ in West Plains teamed up with Operation BBQ Relief to hand out 10,000 bar-be-cue meals in ten days in and around Howell County during the coronavirus crisis. Owner/operators Brian and Jessica Staack began the challenge on April 27, and handed out 2,650 meals that day alone. Since then, they have been to area hospitals in Mountain View, Salem, Ar., Houston, and West Plains. They have handed out hundreds of meals to healthcare workers and first responders. 

Next, the team turned their attention to local people who may have been in need of a hot meal. On Thursday, April 30, they set up their distribution location at Friga Tire in Willow Springs before moving on to Mountain View, Birch Tree, and Winona. The meals they distributed contained pulled pork, green beans, corn, and white bread at no cost.

Within minutes of posting a video announcement of the location on the restaurant’s Facebook page, a long line of cars arrived to claim the free meals. 

Families arrived and took enough to feed everyone in the house. Workers came to pick up lunch for themselves and co-workers. Even the Willow Springs Police Department drove through.

By the end of the day, the team gave away 230 meals in Willow Springs, 250 meals in Mountain View, 250 meals in Birch Tree, and 350 meals in Winona. 

According to Brian Staack, Operation BBQ Relief is a disaster relief organization formed by “a whole bunch of bar-be-cue guys” who respond to disaster areas to feed victims and first responders. In the 2017 flood disaster, Staack said they handed out 14,000 meals in a week. 

The operation continued until Monday, May 4 and eventually served the communities of Thayer, Koshkonong, Alton, and West Plains.