Jay: “We created Fat Boys Grilling to help veterans and those with medical needs. We cook and sell the meat as a benefit, with the proceeds going to the person we are helping at that event. It’s a chance to use our God-given talents to give back. We also just love cooking and being together.”

Sean: “I’m one of the veterans on the team and have been cooking my whole life. Fat Boys Grilling is about taking care of the mission and the person on the left and the right. We’re a team with different skill sets: none of us can do this by ourselves. The mission is whoever we are helping. 

The number one issue we combat is veteran suicide. Post 9-11 veterans don’t have the resources of people to talk to and share experiences–isolation breeds depression. We are lucky many organizations in our community are increasing awareness and bringing veterans together. We recently cooked the turkeys for the free Thanksgiving dinner at the Fairhope VFW. Food is communal. Getting together to eat becomes talking and experiencing each other. We want our food to help bring people together.”

Jay: “There is nothing else like that fellowship in the VFW hall when the community comes together for an event.”

Sean: “But people don’t know that’s available until they get exposed. We want to help people feel at home so they’ll come back.”

Jay: “My grandparents enjoyed having guests over to eat. Nanny never met a stranger and loved cooking. If given the chance I am sure she would feed the whole community. When I was young, she bought a hibachi grill, letting me cook hamburgers and steaks. I loved it and kept grilling.

Seven or eight years ago, We were in the backyard cooking on a borrowed smoker for Mike’s daughter’s wedding. We fought and fought that smoker, finally finishing the food for the reception. After that, we decided to build our own smoker and help people with it. Mike’s cousin had stage four cancer, so we started out cooking and raising money for him.  Mike always called us ‘fat boys;’ that’s how we became Fat Boys Grilling. Now we have twelve men and women in Fat Boys Grilling. We can cook ribs, chicken, brisket, hamburgers, and hot dogs. We can also do fish fries and crawfish boils. Hearing ‘Wow, your food is great’ means the world to us.

Sean: “Sponsorships keep our costs low and help us donate more money. We would love to see others join in and help us build relationships in the community to keep serving others. We love getting together and cooking for a cause.”