NPGA’s Young Professionals Council expands Day of Service

October 16, 2026 By Brian Richesson 0 Comments

Photo of Young Professionals Council members in St. Paul, Minnesota, for its annual Day of Service — The NPGA’s Young Professionals Council teamed with Operation BBQ Relief to serve meals to first responders in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Samantha Greiner)

The National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) Young Professionals Council (YPC) held its third annual Day of Service across five cities on Oct. 7, which also marked National Propane Day.

The YPC partnered again with Operation BBQ Relief to prepare, serve and deliver meals to first responders across the country. This year, the YPC expanded from its previous three locations to five: St. Paul, Minnesota; Kansas City, Missouri; Tampa, Florida; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Dallas. Volunteers across all locations served over 3,000 meals to firefighters, first responders and police officers.

“The best part of the experience was getting to laugh, smile and connect with the hardworking firefighters,” says Sammie Schoonover of Lakes Gas. “It was amazing to learn more about the trainings they were completing that day and get a small glimpse into the dedication, preparation and hard work that goes into what they do every single day. Thank you to the St. Paul Fire Department for welcoming us and giving me the opportunity to see a little more of the incredible work you do for our community.”

Through the generosity of numerous propane industry sponsors of this year’s Day of Service, the YPC raised $20,000, 100 percent of which will be donated to Operation BBQ Relief to support its mission, according to the council.

Operation BBQ Relief is a nonprofit organization that provides hot meals to first responders, relief workers and displaced families following natural disasters. Since its founding in 2011, it has prepared and served over 13 million meals – a majority of which were prepared using propane – across 43 states and territories.

“I really enjoyed being part of the YPC Day of Service and getting the chance to serve the very people who serve and protect our community every single day,” says Nick Becker of Westmor Industries. “Serving a great meal from Operation BBQ Relief and thanking them in person was a very fulfilling experience.”

Jason Erwin of Warm Thoughts Communications adds, “The opportunity to build camaraderie with the local propane network while serving first responders that do so much for our community was extremely rewarding.”

The YPC is a business council of NPGA that seeks to educate, empower and promote professional development for those age 40 and under in the propane industry.

Featured homepage image by Stephanie Hennen, Lakes Gas