Dave Calkins, the owner of Brew Belly in Olney, Maryland, was moved after seeing the damage caused by the recent flooding in Kentucky. So, he decided to volunteer his most valuable asset: his time. “Just seeing the destruction, I just wanted to reach out and help,” Calkins said.
He made the 8-hour drive to Kentucky, unsure of how he’d help or what he would see but found himself cooking up meals for thousands of people alongside other volunteers from across the country. “First day, we did a couple of thousand pounds of meatballs with penne pasta, and all of this was done out of a food truck,” said Calkins. “We got it done. Everybody chipped in.” It wasn’t easy work, but Calkins said he would do it again. “I volunteered because I love my country,” he said.
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Calkins hopes to serve as an example for his new grandson while encouraging others to give back in any way possible. “It always does make us feel better when we do give back,” he said.