LOCAL

Brevard volunteers bring relief to Hurricane Michael victims

Staff Writer
Hendersonville Times-News

Brevard residents Randy and Kathy Theis thought of only one thing after they learned about the devastation to Florida's panhandle following Hurricane Michael: Let’s go.

With a lot of inspiration from Operation BBQ Relief, and a little help from SylvanSport, the Theises packed up and hit the road to help serve with Operation Barbecue Relief. OBR is a charity group that sets up in disaster areas and cooks thousands of barbecue meals per day for first responders and victims.

Since there are usually no hotels nor any lodging available in the area, most volunteers either bring motor homes, travel trailers, or sleep in their cars.

This is where SylvanSport was able to help by providing Randy and Kathy with a GO Adventure Camper for their volunteer relief efforts. They stayed for a week in Panama City Beach, living out of the camper through rain, sun, heat and cold. Each day Randy and Kathy helped prepare and serve over 20,000 barbecue meals per day; most of them before noon.

“The hurricanes of 2018 devastated many areas and families,” SylvanSport Vice President of Sales Earl Hunter said in a news release. “SylvanSport would like to extend a huge thank you to Brevard volunteer-heroes Randy and Kathy Theis and all the other volunteers who provided assistance to first responders and victims of Hurricane Michael.”

Operation Barbecue Relief has put out over 700,000 barbecue meals in Florida alone. To volunteer or donate, visit www.operationbbqrelief.org for more information.