Local BBQ joint helps feed Sandy victims

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A popular gulf coast barbeque joint is reaching out to residents on the East Coast, where homes and businesses were ravaged by Superstorm Sandy.  The Shed, a member of Operation BBQ Relief, is collecting donations to help feed storm victims.

Teams from Operation BBQ Relief are on the ground in Fork River, NJ; Hobokan Little River, NY; and New York City, NY.  They're setting up smokers and grills to help provide first responders and residents a hot meal.  The organization is asking for donations of non-perishable items to help in the effort. 

Here's a list of the items the organization is asking for:

• Charcoal
• Aluminum foil
• Aluminum pans
• Paper towels
• Salt
• Pepper
• Paper plates
• Plastic wear
• Rubs
• Spices
• BBQ sauce
• Disinfecting wipes
• Hand soaps
• Kitchen rags
• Scrubbers

There are four places along the coast where you can drop off the non-perishable items:

The Shed Mobile
5357 Old Shell Road
Mobile, Ala 

The Original Shed BBQ
7501 Mississippi 57  
Ocean Springs, Miss 

The Shed Gulfport/Lyman
15094 Mills Road
Gulfport, Miss 

The Shed Saucery
2223 Government Street
Ocean Springs, Miss 

Monetary donations are also being accepted to help with meat purchase.  Click here if you would like to donate.

Operation BBQ Relief , a non-profit organization, was founded in the aftermath of the tornadoes that flattened Joplin, Mo. A bunch of guys hopped in trucks, drove to the devastated town and set up smokers to feed first-responders and residents. Since then, Operation BBQ Relief has served more than 200,000 meals to first responders, police, fire and people affected by natural disasters.  In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac, Operation BBQ Relief served more than 3,000 meals in the Helena and Moss Point, Mississippi areas.