Volunteers feeding thousands after Mayfield tornado

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Volunteers make and deliver meals to Mayfield residents

Operation BBQ Relief has been making and bringing meals to those affected by the Mayfield tornado. 

Almost a thousand Kentuckians are staying in shelters after tornadoes tore through the western part of the state a little over a week ago. That number doesn’t even count people staying with family and friends, or those staying without electricity, so having a hot meal is so important.

Operation BBQ Relief is feeding more than 5,000 people a day in Mayfield, Kentucky. 

The company started doing this years ago after a tornado hit Missouri. 

Now, they’ve shown up to at least 80 disaster sites to feed people. 

The massive operation contains several tents full of food and supplies.

Operation BBQ Relief feeding tornado victims in Mayfield, KY. 

The workers camp onsite so that they can check on the smokers. 

Many of them will be away from their families this Christmas to make sure these victims have dinner on the holidays.

"To me, it’s about giving them that one hot meal. Letting them eat with their family, and kind of have some normalcy," John Imbriolo, Director of Culinary at Operation BBQ Relief, says. 

And it's not just food. People from all over are showing up with free gas, generators, water and endless donations.

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Volunteers flock to tornado-ravaged areas to help with cleanup and recovery

Aerial Recovery Group has been helping in Kentucky since the tornadoes hit last weekend. 

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear helped give out shoes to storm victims on Sunday.

Gov. Beshear said that 78 people in the state have died from tornadoes.