Smoke & Soul Project

Dave Meadows has spent years using his passion for low-and-slow BBQ to give back to the community. Through his work with organisations such as St Vincent de Paul’s Fred’s Van in Adelaide, he has provided hearty, home cooked meals to people experiencing homelessness and hardship. Each event is entirely self-funded and operated. Dave supplies his own smokers, BBQs, fuel, rubs, sauces, and serving equipment, ensuring there is no cost to the charities he partners with. His signature BBQ boxes, featuring smoky brisket, pulled pork, chilli beans, and comforting sides, have become a welcome highlight for those he serves, offering not just nourishment but dignity, warmth, and a sense of community. The SMOKE & SOUL PROJECT builds on this foundation of service, expanding it into a eight week national BBQ tour across Australia. Dave, together with his wife and two young daughters, will travel with a custom BBQ trailer to partner with local charities and serve free BBQ meals to people in need. The project is about more than food, it's about connection, compassion, and shining a light on the issue of homelessness in communities both big and small. By bringing people together around the BBQ, the Smoke & Soul Project creates moments of comfort, dignity, and hope, while raising awareness of the importance of supporting those most vulnerable in society.