Ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Feges BBQ in Houston is putting the call out for help. You can help a military veteran to a free meal by donating $23 to the barbecue restaurant, either online or in-person.
Feges BBQ has been helping veterans since it first opened in March 2018. Pitmaster and owner Patrick Feges is a military veteran himself and has been offering free meals to his fellow service members from his Greenway Plaza restaurant every Friday.
“I mean, for me, it’s a way to give back to my community,” Feges told Chron. “On Veterans Day, people always think about how we can honor the veterans, and this is a pretty easy thing for somebody to do.”
The meal is a two-meat, two-side tray that comes with a drink and a dessert. Feges said the restaurants have handed out more than 23,000 meals over the last eight years. The recipients come from all branches of the service and all walks of life. Some are just regular people going about their day, and others are a little more down on their luck.
Feges’ program is supported by individual donations, though some are much larger than others. A few of his friends, he said, have simply left their credit card with him.
“A friend of ours offered to pay for the meals. He had a number in mind, but we didn’t hit that number. He said keep it going every week until we hit that number,” Feges said.
The donation special, specifically at the Feges BBQ in Greenway Plaza, has helped form a tiny community in front of the restaurant. Feges said every week, they congregate and catch up on things.
“They take care of each other and look after each other. That’s what we all need,” Feges said.
Last year, Feges BBQ served around 500 plates to veterans. Doing more will require a harder push from those wanting to help. If you’d like to donate, just follow the link here.