One Man’s Mission Makes a Difference
“The work we do is meaningful because these folks served us, and now we have the opportunity to serve them,” said Roberts, who recently launched Hope BBQ last month with the help of his family, friends, and volunteers. The program’s inaugural meal took place in November at Our Orangeville Manor, a personal care home that serves veterans, among others.
“It was during our September delivery of goodie bags leftover from our BBQ & Brew Music Festival when I realized that the Manor was exactly the place I could make a difference,” said Roberts. “Inside the goodie bags was a shirt, and one of the veterans thanked a volunteer, saying he only had two shirts, so this would be his third.”
From Gratitude to Giving
Born from his desire to show gratitude to the veterans who helped shape him as a young boy, Roberts is getting a chance to pay it forward. “My grandfather was a veteran and active in the local American Legion, where I participated in fishing derbies and learned to train my bird dogs.”
In addition to feeding veterans, Roberts’ non-profit also delivered 200 pounds of BBQ to two local food banks that provided 400 meals to low-income families. Roberts credits his family, friends, and volunteers with accomplishing this feat in a couple of weeks.
Cambro to the Rescue
Before Roberts could realize his dream of giving back to his community, he needed a way to transport both hot and cold foods, making sure safety wasn’t compromised. From the home-base kitchen at the American Legion to the food banks and Our Orangeville Manor, it’s a 25-minute drive, not to mention the time it takes to load and unload the food.
“It’s easy if you’re serving meals hot, on-site. But when there’s a delay in eating, that’s where thoughtful planning is crucial. I knew that I was going to have to keep the food both hot and cold simultaneously. Enter Cambro,” Roberts said, smiling.
With the help of Cambro’s community initiative, Cambro Cares, Roberts received two Cam GoBoxes and three Camchillers to support the mission of Hope BBQ.
“I’m just in love with the Cambro technology,” said Roberts, who went to grad school for instructional design where he learned about product development. “I just get so giddy and elbow my dad every time I open the Cambro and there’s been something hot in there for a while. Even if it’s been two to three hours, you still get blasted with a face full of steam because Cambro’s technology is that good.”
What’s Next for Hope BBQ?
If the swift success of Roberts’ BBQ & Brews Music Festival is any indication, Hope BBQ is poised to keep growing and positively impacting homeless veterans and low-income families in Bloomsburg.
“In 2026, our goal is to increase the number of families fed from 400 to 1000, with veterans’ meals increasing to 350,” Roberts beamed. “We have many other projects we’re working on and dreaming about, but the easiest and simplest way to make an impact in their lives is to provide them with a delicious fresh-cooked meal.”
Author: Cynthia Connally is the Digital Communications Manager at Cambro.
