why Jedi OKC?

Why Jedi OKC?

A few years ago, my husband and I joined up with a local club called Jedi OKC, and our lives have been greatly enriched for it ever since. This creative bunch of movie-loving, community-serving, fun-having Oklahomans has shown us a whole new level of hospitality and modeled for us a beautiful example of Love for community.

Admittedly, we joined just for fun, plain and simple. My husband loves to be in costume, and I love to be around people, so we invited and imposed ourselves into their midst for those reasons. It did not take long to realize that this group was about much more than costumes and fun. Since 2001, Jedi OKC has served central Oklahoma communities in some very specific and ever expanding ways. We had no idea about their mission when we first joined, but learning about it has made us love them even more. And our gradual exposure to and involvement in the club’s ongoing community outreach has earned them a place in our hearts forever.

They have raised thousands of dollars, year after year, to provide gifts and parties for children at the Integris mental health hospital in Spencer, OK. They have volunteered countless hours and immense creativity to add something over-the-top special to the former District Attorney’s longstanding annual Christmas party for abused and underprivileged kids. Jedi OKC lends its magic to parades and charity walks big and small, all year long. Club members costume up and attend movie premiers and vacation Bible school events when asked, fun and simple civic events like the opening of the Devon ice rink downtown, and even unsuspecting wedding photo shoots, if you are at the Myriad gardens at just the right moment, ha! (Not for hire, worth noting, but fun accidents do happen!) They throw their abundant energy at all kinds of charity events, with a special affection for kids in need.

As with any good, thriving organization, it’s the people who make it special. In Jedi OKC you will find men and women of all ages, and creativity and passion abound in them all. They exude camaraderie and inclusion, intelligence, teamwork, perseverance, charity, silliness, gentleness, compassion, and just every expression of Love that you could hope for. What I find magical is that their ongoing projects are so well wrapped in fun that people hardly realize it’s a lot of work, valuable and needed.

This pandemic year has been as challenging for Jedi OKC as it has been for any charitable organization that relies on in-person gatherings to raise money. Normally by this time of year, the group would have hosted so many incredible community fund raisers that the upcoming children’s hospital parties and gift giving traditions would be nearly satisfied. Instead, everyone is scraping. If you want to share in some of this glowy goodness, please consider adding to the candy heap before October 23rd.

Or consider contributing a little cash to the Christmas fund. Both parties are for children at the Integris mental health hospital in Spencer, OK. You can rest assured that 100% of everything shared goes straight to the kids. All labor and materials are supplied on a volunteer/donate basis. And every speck of contribution and effort made is wildly appreciated.

In case I fail to say so to anyone in person, this is my insufficient thank you to Rick, Rita, Ryan and Shawna, to Bobby, David, Cara, Jon & Carissa, Kit & Jackson, David & Keri, Letitia, to dozens of folks who have come into our lives and welcomed us into to theirs, through this really cool club. I am honored to be even loosely associated with you, and I hope your winter goals are met in excess! You do such good work, ma’ams and sirs. Keep it up.

May the Force continue to be with you, always.
XOXOXOXO