Judy Kramer
County Reporter
First responders from EMTs to Sheriff’s deputies were treated to a BBQ meal at the Warsaw Community Building on May 25 by Operation BBQ Relief (OBR), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that feeds individuals in need after natural disasters. Local member of the organization, Brett Atkinson, said that OBR gets together every year to celebrate the organization’s birthday and after their celebration this month wanted to do something for first responders with their surplus of meat.
“We got to feed veterans and first responders,” said Atkinson.
The organization was founded in May 2011 in response to a need for tornado relief efforts in Joplin, where competitive pitmasters from nine different states fed displaced families and first responders. It has built a network that to date has provided over 10 million meals, after disasters, throughout the U.S. and internationally. They serve the homeless, first responders, veterans, and members of the military.
“I got involved with the OBR a decade ago when I had a food truck in Kansas City,” said Atkinson. “After a tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma on May 20, 2013, I drove down to serve meals and met people from OBR. They served 2,000 meals at the time. I was a good cook and was personally ready for a change. The service industry (that he was in at the time) is a wild, wild west with long hours and little pay. After running with the OBR crew, I knew they needed someone for an open position. I am single, and my daughters are grown so it was a great fit for me.”
Atkinson is now Facility Manager at Camp OBR at 32446 Golden Acres Road in Lincoln. He spends most of his time there and it is hard for him to get away to help after disasters, although he loves being able to when possible. He said that there are not disasters every year and the OBR still wants to help people so one way is through this camp for first responders and military personnel with an emphasis on the family unit.
“The previous owner of this 200 plus acreage built a beautiful log home which serves as the lodge,” said Atkinson. “We are also building cabins for families to stay in. We want them to be active. We offer outdoor experiences on the lake such as water sports, plus hunting and fishing. I am currently working on bee colonies. You never know what will catch someone’s eye. We will show them different ways to cook the game they hunt and at the end of the day we will try to create a culture of community, like eating together at a table. We expect to have five or six families stay a few days at a time and the first camp experience is set to begin in July with Gold Star families invited to the camp. I grew up in the country, and have a background in farming and agriculture, so I feel able to take care of this place.”
Atkinson said that the OBR is financed through corporate donors because it takes a lot of money and products to do what it does. OBR’s last response to a tornado disaster was in Port Charlotte, Florida in October 2022. Its team served just under 1000 meals which would have cost an astronomical amount of money, but corporations send food for things like that.
Camp OBR’s goals are to be a place where veterans, military and first responders can connect with each other and grow their networks; offer programs and activities to help heal emotional, mental, and physical wounds through team building, fellowship, and fostering individual growth and resiliency; inspire organizations and partners to take part in the lives of veterans, military, and first responders; provide hope, compassion and friendship through activities, programs and events; offer families of those that serve our nation and communities, that have suffered a life altering event, an opportunity to connect and strengthen their family bonds through camp programming in a distraction-free, hands-on bonding environment.
“We are kind of in the healing business,” said Atkinson. “Serve one meal that matters during disasters.”
