Operation BBQ Relief: 'Thank Q FedEx' for carrying tons of food to Hurricane Irma victims

Memphis Commercial Appeal

FedEx is airlifting tons of still-warm barbecue to hurricane victims in the Florida Keys this week in cooperation with charitable grillmasters at Operation BBQ Relief.

FedEx got involved after one of its aircraft mechanics, Scott Guy, asked if the company could airlift 10,000 meals a day from Ft. Myers to the Keys Sunday through Wednesday.

Memphis-based FedEx assigned two feeder aircraft to transport about 3,700 pounds of food a day, plus water supplied by local FedEx teams. The Salvation Army is coordinating meal distribution.

Guy is a member of Operation BBQ Relief, which was formed to feed the hungry after a tornado struck Joplin, Missouri in 2011. The organization served 371,760 meals over 11 days on the Texas Gulf Coast after Hurricane Harvey, then shifted its focus to the Florida region hit by Hurricane Irma.

A FedEx blog post said FedEx Global Operations Command and Control in Memphis approved Guy’s request, and the first shipment moved less than 18 hours later.

"In our continuing support of providing relief to those impacted by Hurricane Irma, FedEx will transport 10,000 meals per day for residents and first responders in the Florida Keys for Operation BBQ Relief,” FedEx spokeswoman Katie Wassmer said.

“The flights began 12 p.m. EDT Sunday, September 17. FedEx will provide two flights daily providing lunch and dinner service, and the flights will continue through mid-week,” Wassmer said.

FedEx linked up with Operation BBQ Relief to deliver barbecue to hurricane-stricken South Florida.

The food was transported to Key West for distribution.

Organizers of Operation BBQ Relief lavished praise on FedEx.

“What an amazing caring group of people who understand their role in the world and how to make it a better place by doing what they can do,” said the organization’s Facebook page.

“We cannot be more appreciative of FedEx’s flying in and helping Operation BBQ Relief get meals down into the keys. Thank Q FedEx!

The FedEx blog post added, “The meals were even still hot when they arrived.”

FedEx employees load an A300 Airbus with 20,000 meals ready to eat that were to be delivered to the American Red Cross in Houston to help support disaster relief efforts after major flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.