Dose of Goodness: Bootleggers BBQ Serves Up Kindness by the Pound
For the past few weeks, I’ve quietly watched a local business go above and beyond for their community—and I just can’t stay silent any longer. It’s time to recognize Bootleggers BBQ and its incredible owners, Jess and Brian, with one of the most fulfilling Dose of Goodness stories we’ve had the honor to share.
From devastating flooding to tornadoes that tore through Bakersfield and West Plains, these two have stepped up in a truly selfless and powerful way. In the aftermath of the storms, Jess and Brian fired up their smokers—not for profit, but for people. They prepared and delivered hot meals to those affected and to the linemen who worked around the clock, often with little to no rest, restoring power and safety to our towns.
But their generosity didn’t stop there.
Wanting to do even more, Jess and Brian posted a simple question on their Facebook page: would anyone be interested in buying smoked pork butts if the proceeds went directly to local first responders in the hardest-hit areas? The response was overwhelming.
Using a few donations they had received for their own efforts, they bought pork butts, smoked them with love, and launched a fundraiser like no other. What they expected to be a modest sale of 30 or 40 quickly turned into over 250 smoked pork butts sold at $50 each—with every single penny going to those on the front lines.
Just this past weekend, they sold over 270 pork butts across various drop-off sites. The community rallied, the smokers worked overtime, and volunteers poured in to help make it happen.
Jess and Brian later posted this heartfelt message:
“What a few crazy days… but we did it! What started as a small idea to pass along a few donations turned into something incredible. Every person who bought a pork butt showed their support for us and our surrounding communities. We are so grateful. This couldn’t have happened without the people who stepped up to help us—Jeron, Justin, Chanel, Jeff, Lonnie, Maureen, Bailee—you all were amazing. We’re so lucky to have you as friends. We’ll share THE final totals soon… but right now, we need some sleep!”
So while Jess and Brian are busy thanking the community, it’s our turn to say thank YOU to Bootleggers BBQ. Your compassion, hard work, and commitment to giving back—even when it’s exhausting and behind the scenes—deserve every bit of recognition.
From feeding the hungry to lifting up first responders, and doing it all without expecting a thing in return—this is what true community looks like. This is the heart of the Ozarks.
Thank you, Jess and Brian. Thank you, Bootleggers BBQ. We’re proud to call you our neighbors.
