Wounded Warrior to Run Across the Country to Raise Funds and Awareness for Serving Military, First Responders and the Hungry while Providing over 80,000 BBQ Meals

PECULIAR, Mo. and TYSONS, Va., April 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Operation BBQ Relief, a 501C3 tax-exempt charitable organization committed to providing hot meals and compassion to areas after disaster strikes, invites community members to join The Breaking Bread Tour and support military, first responders and the hungry during a cross-country tour April 28-June 20.

The tour will follow Operation BBQ Relief's Head of Non-Disaster Programs Jarrid "Jay" Collins, community members, and athletes from Achilles International and the Semper Fi Fund as they run, bike and hand-cycle across eight communities from Los Angeles to Tampa, Fla. The tour will end June 20 in Tampa, for the opening of the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games, where Operation BBQ Relief will support athletes and families throughout the games. Collins, a U.S. Army veteran and wounded warrior who was injured during a deployment to Afghanistan, will compete for team United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) during the games.

In each of the eight community stops, Operation BBQ Relief will provide hot BBQ meals to over 10,000 military service members, first responders and those less fortunate.

"Many things divide people today, which is why we believe in bringing people together by connecting, inspiring and serving communities through the Healing Power of BBQ," said Collins. "We look forward to breaking bread with as many people as possible throughout this tour and helping those who do good for their communities."

The tour will stop and serve meals in the following cities:

• Los Angeles, California (April 28) - Feeding homeless at Skid Row
• Phoenix, Arizona (May 5) - Feeding homeless in downtown Phoenix
• El Paso, Texas (May 13) - Feeding soldiers and families on Fort Bliss
• San Antonio, Texas (May 20) - Feeding wounded warriors, family and staff at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC)
• Houston, Texas (May 25) - Feeding community and homeless
• Hammond, Louisiana (June 2) - Feeding first responders and community
• Panama City, Florida (June 9) - Feeding those still suffering from 2018 storms
• Tampa, Florida (June 20) - Feeding athletes and families for 2019 DOD Warrior Games

Those interested in running, biking or serving with The Breaking Bread Tour are encouraged to register here.

In addition to serving meals, Collins will participate in community events throughout the tour, including being recognized as the "Hero of the Game" for the April 28 LA Dodgers home game and throwing out first pitches at baseball games in Houston and Tampa.

PenFed Credit Union, the nation's second-largest federal credit union, is a tour sponsor. Jay Collins is a member of the PenFed Foundation Speakers Bureau that brings together the best and brightest military veterans with unique stories to share. The speakers bureau is a part of PenFed's Veteran Entrepreneur Investment Program.

"We are especially proud to support Jay Collins as he inspires others through this cross-country running tour bringing people together and feeding the hungry," said James Schenck, President and CEO of PenFed Credit Union and CEO of the PenFed Foundation. "Jay and the entire Operation BBQ Relief team embody our core PenFed values and we thank them for all that they do."

About Operation BBQ Relief
Founded in May 2011, Operation BBQ Relief is a 501.c.3 Disaster Relief Organization that provides meals to displaced residents and emergency personnel during times of natural and other disasters. Since its founding, Operation BBQ Relief has served over 2,900,000 meals, helped communities in 25 states and offered hope and friendship to those whose lives have been affected by disasters across the United States. To learn more, visit www.operationbbqrelief.org.

About PenFed Credit Union
Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 1.7 million members worldwide with $25 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union