Caring Collective

09/09/2026

Late night thought as I wrap up another long day… every day I’m reminded that a Transitional Living Program isn’t just a service, it’s a lifeline. The impact a TLP has on our youth is deeper than most people ever see. It’s stability where there’s been uncertainty, guidance where there’s been isolation, and hope where there’s been far too many closed doors.

I’m genuinely thankful to be part of building Caring Collective from the ground up. Even with the challenges… and there have been plenty, the reward will be worth every long night, every hard conversation, and every moment spent fighting for what these young adults deserve. This work matters. Their futures matter.

And I need to say this clearly, with love and conviction… funding is not optional. In the beginning, it is absolutely crucial. Programs like ours don’t grow on good intentions alone. They grow because people choose to invest in our youth, not just in theory, but in action. It takes a community willing to step forward and say, “Their success is worth my support.”

When people invest in young adults aging out of care, they’re not funding a program, they’re fueling someone’s future. They’re giving a young person the chance to stand on their own, to dream bigger, and to finally feel like they belong somewhere.

Caring Collective is going to change lives. I believe that with my whole heart. We currently have one resident, two on the way, and a few waiting to turn 18. We have made tremendous ground in a short time. I am so grateful to be part of something that will leave a lasting mark on our community and on the generations coming behind us. Show your support and connect with us! Caringcollectiveok.org

With great love and gratitude,
Kelley

09/09/2026

Thank you Shawnee Rotary for the wonderful common room. It’s starting to really come together

08/27/2026

Okay y’all!! Caring Collective is on FIRE right now… busy, growing, and full of purpose. I can’t pay an intern yet, but what I can give is the chance to learn nonprofit work from the ground up, right beside me in the real chaos and real impact. If you want heart, hustle, and hands‑on experience that actually matters… come work with me!! 🫶🏼🤩

08/01/2026

I want to give a massive shout out to Jersey Mike’s Subs for providing dinner for our Caring Collective strategic planning meeting Thursday evening. Dani, Zack, and the entire team showed up in a way that absolutely blew me away. Their generosity, their kindness, their heart for this community, it’s phenomenal.

Walking out afterward, I cried. Dani pours into this community without hesitation, and seeing Zack thriving after everything he’s lived through… it hit me deeply. His strength, his resilience, his story… it’s powerful. My hope is to incorporate him into our program so he can share that journey and inspire others.

I’m beyond grateful to meet people who work hard every single day and give back without question. Jersey Mike’s didn’t just feed us, they reminded me what community really looks like. Thank you for being such an incredible blessing.

07/16/2026

A HUGE Happy Birthday to one of our amazing board members, Gerard Nsabimana! 🥳 Your leadership, kindness, and steady support mean the world to us. We’re grateful for you today and every day.

Look what welcomed our pastor on location!
Happiest of days to Gerard! Usually people relax on their birthday, but he is out serving in the mission field!

07/13/2026

Volunteer Update:

Please note that if you have already signed up to help with cleanup, you are welcome to join us. If you have not, all volunteer sessions for this week are now closed. Thank you for understanding, we appreciate every single person who has stepped up.

If you are interested in touring the facilities to see what we’re doing (not to volunteer), you’re welcome to make arrangements by emailing [email protected].

Thank you for continuing to follow along for additional updates. 💛

07/10/2026

Volunteer cleanup is held at DeGrasse Hall. For parking this link is helpful. Please call (405) 240-9593 if you have any questions.

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

07/09/2026

PLEASE SHARE!!

🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE: Caring Collective Volunteer Cleanup Days 🚨

First…HUGE thank you to everyone who showed up today for our 2nd volunteer cleanup at St. Gregory’s. Y’all worked HARD, and your support means the world. Truly… your effort does not go unnoticed. And a special shoutout to the fire suppression crew from Colorado! Thank you for being so patient with us today while juggling your installation work around our chaos. We appreciate you more than you know. 💛

To help us coordinate around ongoing building maintenance (fire suppression installation) and make sure we’re using everyone’s time wisely, we’re moving to mandatory pre‑registration for all remaining July cleanup dates.

Drop‑ins are paused, and we’ll only host sessions that meet our minimum volunteer count.

👉 Available Shifts: July 10, 14, 15, & 17
⏰ 8am–12pm & 1pm–4pm
🥪 Free lunch/food provided for morning signed‑up crews!

📧 RSVP REQUIRED: Email [email protected] or call (405) 240-9593 to lock in your shift. If a date doesn’t get enough sign‑ups, we’ll cancel it ahead of time to protect everyone’s schedule.

Clarification: If a shift does meet the minimum and is officially happening, and we’re already there working during that block, it’s totally fine to come for a few hours. In other words, drop‑ins are OK on heavy sign‑up days that are not canceled. However, if you did NOT sign up, you’ll need to call or email first to confirm whether we’re working that day. This helps us avoid people showing up on days that ended up canceled.

Thank you for showing up, supporting us, and helping build this program from the ground up. 🙌