Boeing Cares is Boeing’s employee community engagement program which encourages employees to contribute to their local communities through volunteering and charitable donations. In 2024 alone, Boeing employees across the country gave $48 million and volunteered more than 494,000 hours.

Their efforts at Kaleo this year served more than 1,100 people in the Oklahoma City metro. They assembled 900 Hope Packs and 200 Family Boxes provided to children and families for the holidays. Hope Packs are made up of snacks and drinks for kids and Family Boxes contain non-perishable food items like canned goods.

Demonstrating Boeing’s values of integrity and people-focused culture, several of Boeing’s employees have even returned of their own accord on weekends to serve alongside other volunteers.

“We appreciate their diligence,” said Sam Walker, The Kaleo Foundation Founder. “Many stayed beyond their scheduled time to complete the need. Their attitude was amazing!”

Are you looking for a place your company can volunteer to help The Kaleo Foundation meet the physical and spiritual needs of children in your community? Contact us today at https://thekaleofoundation.org/contact/.

Throughout October and November, Kaleo provided pallets of food and water to help churches love their neighbors well. Ministries like In the Gap, congregations in Sayre, Oilton, Farris, Elevate Church, and Tiempos de Gloria all used these resources to bless their communities during fall outreach events. And, The Gideons International also provided hundreds of miniature copies of the New Testaments for volunteers to hand out at events.

One of those partners was Chandler Assembly of God, which recently welcomed more than 250 guests onto their property for a Fall Festival. More than 40 church volunteers ran activities including a concession stand with free food, ring toss, miniature pony rides, and a petting zoo full of goats, sheep, and bunnies. The church even opened “Faith’s Clothes Closet” to attendees, making sure anyone in need could take clothing home free of charge.

Pastor Derek Mooy shared that Kaleo’s donated pallets were a major part of the celebration. Church members stacked boxes of snacks and water on the back of a church member’s flatbed truck to hand out to families. “We actually had to go back and reload the truck once – people were blessed by Kaleo’s generosity,” he said.

But the impact wasn’t limited to one November night. The goods from the pallets given to Chandler Assembly of God have also blessed two local schools, church members, a senior citizens’ center, and anyone who visits the clothes closet.

“It truly helped in creating a generous heart within the church,” Pastor Mooy shared. “And, we have heard several reports of people being so shocked we would just give it all away. We always tell them it’s because of Christ that we do what we do.”

Pastor Mooy expressed his gratitude for Kaleo, which extends beyond the nonprofit to the many people who give generously of their time and money to make Kaleo successful.

“Thanks to The Kaleo Foundation, the almost 300 people at the Fall Festival as well as so many others have been truly blessed and felt love from God.”

Pops is no stranger to service. He spent 22 years in the U.S. Air Force before retiring in 1984, and he hasn’t slowed down since. For decades, he and his wife Bonnie volunteered together and were even named Oklahoma’s Veteran Volunteer Family of the Year. After 62 years of marriage, Bonnie has since passed away, but Pops carries on their legacy of service.

Much of that service happens with Warriors for Freedom, a nonprofit that provides mental, physical, and wellness support for veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families. Pops first connected with the group by helping veterans navigate VA disability claims, something he still does two days a week. “Veterans helping veterans has been my motto for a long time,” he said. “If we don’t help each other, there’s nobody else out there going to do it for us.”

A Place for Everyone

At 80 years old and recovering from recent surgeries, Pops appreciates that Kaleo makes it possible for anyone to serve, regardless of physical ability. Their warehouse is ADA accessible, and they always find a way for Pops to contribute. “They take good care of me,” he said. “Stuffing bags, putting food or listing sheets in… whatever they need, I do.”

One of his favorite memories highlights Kaleo’s generosity. While preparing a meal for a group home, Pops asked Kaleo co-founder, Sam, if he could spare a few boxes of Ding Dongs so every resident could enjoy a treat. Instead of a few boxes, Sam gave him 30 — enough for each person to have their own box. “That one just kind of sticks out,” Pops said. “Sam and Pam are so generous and thoughtful. They want to take good care of people.”

For Pops, volunteering is about more than checking a box. “It’s the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you get done helping,” he said. “The end result is going to put a big smile on somebody’s face — and that’s what it’s all about.”

Kaleo coordinates group volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and there’s a place for everyone to serve. Learn more or schedule a group at thekaleofoundation.org.

This practical help is one of many ways Kaleo and Aydelotte are working together to meet the physical and spiritual needs of children in Shawnee and beyond.

Meeting Needs in a Community Facing Poverty

Shawnee, Oklahoma, home to about 30,000 people, faces a poverty rate of 20% — well above the national average of 12%. Children are especially affected. Poverty often brings hunger, unsafe housing, and under-resourced schools, with long-lasting impacts on development.

That reality is evident at North Rock Creek Schools, where Aydelotte prioritizes its ministry. The K-12 district serves 1,200 students; nearly a third qualify for free and reduced lunch. At the elementary level, 48% of students are economically disadvantaged.

Before school began this fall, Aydelotte served a biscuit and gravy breakfast to North Rock Creek teachers during their in-service meetings. Volunteers also prayed for staff and distributed gift sacks — provided by The Kaleo Foundation — filled with snacks for children in need.

Additionally, Kaleo delivered 21 cases of BODYARMOR sports drinks to North Rock Creek, ensuring teachers and coaches have resources to support kids throughout the semester.

Investing in the Community Through Sports

This summer, Aydelotte also hosted a soccer camp for local children. Flyers were distributed to three schools, drawing families from across the community. Kaleo supplied BODYARMOR and enough gift bags for every participant.

Senior Pastor Monte Dean reflected on the impact:

“It was a wonderful week as we shared the Good News of Jesus Christ our Savior each day. We supplemented our message with crafts. On the last morning, we had a family day where parents could watch their kids show what they learned on the soccer field. It was an exciting week!”

The Kaleo Foundation’s mission of meeting the critical needs of children, relieving hunger, and eliminating illiteracy aligns seamlessly with Aydelotte’s vision to equip God’s people and extend the Gospel in Shawnee and beyond. Together, they are living out this calling in tangible ways.

Wondering how you can partner with The Kaleo Foundation to meet the physical and spiritual needs of children in your community? Contact us today at https://thekaleofoundation.org/contact/.

This fall, The Kaleo Foundation is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Career Tech, OSU Career Tech, and Family & Consumer Science programs to inspire the next generation of growers — right in their classrooms.

Through this new initiative, we’ve distributed 450 seed starter bags to STEM educators across the state. Each one includes a packet of flower seeds and encouragement to start planting this fall so students don’t have to wait until ideal conditions for growing vegetables. Using hydroponic systems, community gardens, and greenhouses, students are already putting these resources to work.

One intentional seed selection this year is the Cherokee Trail of Tears black bean. Originally carried by Cherokee ancestors during their forced relocation from their homes to Oklahoma, this seed represents resilience, culture, and the importance of sustaining heritage and history through agriculture.

We’re especially grateful to know the Wichita tribes have already sown seeds, and young students are proud of their sprouting plants. These are more than class projects — gardening teaches patience, failure, and success while also providing tangible and practical nutrition.

Thanks to our partners at OSU Extension and Ag in the Classroom, a full curriculum is now available to guide teachers and students through the growing process. And, a huge thank you to Home Depot for your seed donations and Frisco Texas Youth for sorting seeds for distribution. Together, we’re planting seeds in the soil and in the hearts of future gardeners across Oklahoma.

Similar to the Thunder’s goal, The Kaleo Foundation’s objective is to stay focused on serving others during each day and opportunity.

We are full swing into the summer months, and many youth and parents have been spending their days at Kaleo serving others. And the best part- they’re coming from Oklahoma and other nearby states as well!

At the beginning of June, 30,000 pounds of dark  and milk chocolate entered the doors of Kaleo. Quickly, the volunteers jumped in and began labeling boxes of candy with a simple labeled message of  “God Cares “ including a bow.

This has been a sweet treat for all those working in any area of health care across the state, as well as a gift to our first responders.

Aside from the candy, 3,000 large bags of assorted snacks were prepared for Children that needed a few extra munchies for the Summer.  This has been a boost for VBS & summer Bible Clubs. This special gift lets kids know that churches and community partners care about them even when school has ended.

Even in the summer- Kaleo is focused on serving others each day!

We value these meetings and have seen the difference they make to our communities.

One of these meetings occurred recently between Warriors for Freedom and active Naval volunteers.  It resulted in 17 active navy members, and their families joining with Warriors for Freedom to make a distribution to Prairie Queen Elementary staff and students. They provided over 620 Hope Packs at the school.

The naval leader said the distribution to the students was life-changing to the volunteers as evidenced by the tears and joy he saw on their faces.

The active naval members and veterans put the Hope Packs together, packed them and distributed them. Involvement from conception to distribution is what made the experience so impactful, expressed Trevor who led the naval group.

As he left Kaleo, he stated, “we will have more volunteers here next month because of the impact of the experience we just had!”

A teacher in Chickasha, Oklahoma recently lost her home to a fire. Instead of focusing only on her loss, she wanted to thank the firefighters who tried to save her house.

Thanks to our many donors, Kaleo was able to help her replace some of her lost belongings. Inspired by this kindness, the teacher wanted to repay the firemen who worked so hard to try and save her home.

This is where students from Oklahoma Christian School sprang into action!  They worked together to create 250 care packages for first responders throughout Grady County, with special attention to volunteer firefighters who serve without pay.

The impact was immediate and heartfelt. The firefighters were in awe of what these students did to serve them. Many volunteers rarely receive recognition for their sacrifice, making these gifts especially meaningful.

For the students, this project was about more than community service hours. It was a real-life lesson in how giving back creates a positive cycle of kindness that strengthens the entire community.

What started with tragedy has come full circle—from firefighters helping a teacher, to an organization helping the teacher, to the teacher inspiring students, to students honoring firefighters. This chain of kindness shows how one good deed can lead to many more.