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Melissa Ford - Co-Founder/Executive Director
I’m a single mom of two girls, Madelyn and Bellamy. I love all things Disney, crafting and DIY projects, photography, all types of music and baking. This organization started with a question from my daughter, Madelyn, who was 9 at the time. Driving through Downtown OKC, she saw someone sleeping outside, and asked what happened. We had a lengthy conversation about it, and the ultimate question, “how can we help?” started the idea wheel rolling. I thought about it A LOT. What to do? How to do it? How to afford it? I talked it over with my mom and my aunt, and we just knew that what was meant to be would work out.
Our first outreach was on December 26th, 2020. We had NO IDEA how to do this- we were just guessing and kinda went with it. We prepared sack lunches and some yummy homemade chicken noodle soup. My mom, aunt, daughter Madelyn, and I set up behind the McDonald’s on the corner of Classen and Sheridan (which has since become “our spot”) and served 85 people that day. Being able to meet people, seeing how grateful they were for a meal and casual conversation sealed the deal for us that very day. We all walked away knowing without a doubt that’s what we were called to do! Quickly after, we set the date for January and started discussing the menu for that day. After posting about it on social media, it grew—FAST. People were messaging all of us trying to find out more about how to help. Ultimately, a Facebook group was created for the volunteers to coordinate and discuss our outreach days beforehand. We went from just us four in December of 2020 to a volunteer group of 300+ by September! We have been overwhelmed with the support we have received. Clothing donations, Amazon wish list purchases, and monetary donations are what have helped this become what it is today! The team we have formed has become a family that is full of ideas of how to continue to serve our neighbors experiencing homelessness. With a group of 300+ people with the heart of servants and a desire to give back, there’s only one way to go from here- up. Scatter Kindness isn’t just a name- it’s a phrase that we love and live by.
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Shelley Ford - Co-Founder
I am an LPN of 18 years, mother of Melissa, Colton, and Kyle, grandmother of Madelyn, Zavion, and Bellamy, and I am co-founder of Scatter Kindness Foundation.
Growing up in a small town it was part of our upbringing to take food to the bereaved families in our community, my mother was a cook by trade so it came naturally for her to cook large meals, and I guess the fact that I had 9 siblings didn’t hurt either.
Thanksgiving was a big holiday and there was never a shortage of food, anyone was welcomed at our humble table and plates were made to be delivered to the homebound.
Before I moved away from Pauls Valley my friend Jackie Anderson would cook and we would deliver plates to the elderly and homebound in the community. So I guess you can say that I have been part of community outreach all my life.
When we decided to put Melissa’s vision into action in December 2020 it was 3 adults and a 10 year old, we set a menu of homemade chicken noodle soup with a sack lunch and off we went blessed to be a blessing we had no idea what to expect, didn’t know what we would encounter or how many people we would serve, but we stepped out on faith and it was a success.
We have come a long way from the original 4 volunteers we started with, and with your help may we continue to be like what it says in Luke 6:38 “Give and will be given to you. Good measures, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure, you use it will be measured back to you.
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Sherrie Hendrix Black - Board Member
I'm a part-time sign language interpreter, full-time wife, mom, and Lolly. My loves are my grandkids, my family, reading too much, writing, running, kayaking and camping. I am passionate about pursuing social and criminal justice in whatever ways I can make myself available.
I became involved with Scatter Kindness after reconnecting with an old friend that was one of the original founders of the group. I've made so many new friends and this work keeps the fire lit in me to continue working toward God's will on earth as it is in heaven.
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Sara Sisco - Board Member
I am a single mom of an 11-year-old daughter. We are homeschoolers and I am the Co-Founder of the OKC Metro Homeschool Association.
I originally joined Scatter Kindness as a way to encourage my daughter to volunteer in the community, as she had been asking to work with the houseless for a long time. Once we became involved, we very quickly realized this was our calling. Now I am ready to work to grow this incredible outreach and help any and all of our fellow Oklahoman's who are in need of compassion and assistance.
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Jennifer Cole- Board Member
I am beyond excited and honored to be part of such an incredible outreach, the Scatter Kindness Foundation.
I am originally from North Carolina but I find myself being a native of Oklahoma because I’ve lived here most of my life and my children were born here. I have an incredibly supportive better half, Terry, and am the mother to three (3) pretty amazing beings; Taylor, Nic, and my youngest Anthony. I am an Administrator with the State of Oklahoma and enjoy coffee, fuzzy socks, a warm blanket, and a great movie!
In addition to mother, work-life, and the side things I enjoy, a few of my passions include working with at-risk youth, criminal justice reform, and being involved with outreach efforts to help address societal needs and encourage disadvantaged members of our community.
One of my personal mantras, in my personal and work life, is Changing Lives (#ChangingLives). I’ve found whether providing a service, regardless of what it is, or doing outreach, you always have the opportunity to affect someone’s day or life. Joining the Scatter Kindness Foundation has given me an opportunity to do just that, Change Lives! Joining efforts with some really great people that share some of the same passions providing me some very meaningful fellowship with those that we are called to serve. I am looking forward to the ways we can continue to serve our community and our State.
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Casey Moore - Board Member
My name is Casey Moore. I live in Texas, but I grew up in Oklahoma so it will always hold a special place in my heart. From an early age, my mom always preached the importance of volunteering and giving back. I have a 9 year old son with autism that is the driving force behind everything that I do. I am a Special Education teacher for 1st and 2nd grade, and am working towards my masters degree to become an Educational Diagnostician. I am passionate about inclusion and meeting everyone's needs right where they are. Whether it be my role as a mother, a teacher, or a volunteer, I feel that every single person deserves respect and to feel important. I am excited to be a part of this amazing organization and cannot wait to see how it grows.