“Burgers up!” rang the joyful cry at the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid when In-N-Out Burger restaurants unexpectedly donated a surplus of hamburger buns and lettuce heads to the east Dallas collection center on July 2, just in time for Fourth of July celebrations.

As it turns out, though, buns weren’t the only American classic up for Buckner’s domestic humanitarian aid center. Within days of the In-N-Out delivery, the North Texas Food Bank called to offer boxes of hamburger patties. Shortly thereafter, the Texas Baptist Men arrived bearing frozen French fries. The favorite American family meal assembled itself directly on Buckner’s doorstep.

“I was just waiting for the mustard to fall from heaven,” said Jackie Belt, director of domestic aid and assistance for Buckner International. “These families enjoyed an abundant feast thanks to the community’s generosity and serendipitous timing.”

Because of the timely donations, Buckner was able to provide more than 1,000 families each with 12 hamburger buns, 12 beef patties, two heads of lettuce and a sack of frozen potatoes. The donations also provided food to two Buckner community centers.

Elizabeth Arnold is the summer marketing intern for Buckner International.