Any NPGA member employee near five host cities can feed first responders Oct. 7

The Situation

One driver off a route for five hours on Wednesday, Oct. 7, buys your employee a day beside peers from other member companies. That day, the Young Professionals Council (YPC) of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) holds its third annual Day of Service in five cities. The YPC runs it, but any member company employee near a host city can go. In a Sept. 17 post on NPGA's website, NPGA said the YPC is continuing its partnership with Operation BBQ Relief to "prepare, deliver, and serve meals to first responders".

The Facts

The post lists five host cities: St. Paul, Minn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Dallas, Texas; Tampa, Fla.; and Raleigh, N.C. Each city will have one point of contact from Operation BBQ Relief and one from the YPC. The post estimates the day runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The YPC is also taking sponsorships, and the post says, "All sponsorship dollars will be donated back to Operation BBQ to support its mission." Luis Gutierrez, the YPC's Membership Chair, handles sponsorship questions. Stephanie Hennen and Sierra Jergenson handle volunteer questions. The post does not give a sign-up deadline or say how many volunteers each city can take.

Source: NPGA news post, Sept. 17, 2026, https://www.npga.org/news-resources/2026-young-professionals-council-day-of-service/

Business Impact

What it costs your shop

The real cost is one person off the schedule from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on a Wednesday. If that person runs a bobtail route or answers the phones, somebody else has to cover those stops or calls. In return, your employee works beside staff from other member companies and serves first responders in a nearby host city.

Action Steps

1. 1.Pick one employee who works near a host city.
2. 2.Before you ask, move their Oct. 7 route stops or phone shift to someone else, so the day is already free when they hear about it.
3. 3.Have them contact Stephanie Hennen or Sierra Jergenson through NPGA to sign up.
4. 4.If your company would rather sponsor, contact Luis Gutierrez.