02/28/2022
“I spent this past Friday working the register at our Greenway Plaza location. It was supposed to be our last Veteran Friday event, and I was there to let everyone know that 'Today will be the last Veteran Friday. Thank you so much for your service!'
"I never once uttered those words. At least not the first part.
"As the first group of veterans and active military arrived (in uniform!) and eagerly made their way through our line, I made the decision to keep this going. Some way, somehow. The veteran crowd continued to grow, and it occurred to me that none of them were Greenway Plaza office tenants or even previous regulars. This new community of veterans had grown over the past year through word of mouth and need. Some came by public bus, some brought their kids and explained why veterans are honored with free meals, and others treated it as a reason to meet up with old comrades.
"I realized how much this means to them. I also realized how much they mean to us.” – Erin Smith, co-owner, Feges BBQ
We are hoping to raise enough money to keep this going over the next few months. Or better yet, find a donor or donors willing to underwrite the weekly events for a period of time. The weekly commitment averages $350-$400 and provides free BBQ lunches to an average of 25-30 Veterans. Occasionally, we get a bigger crowd, but this has been pretty consistent over the past few months.
If you are interested in supporting our veterans in this way, please contact Erin at [email protected].
