Leon R. Shorey III expands food aid effort in Cali

Leon R. Shorey III is helping grow a community-led food assistance effort in Cali, Colombia, after an initial outreach reached about 60 families. The next phase, 60 Families Forward, aims to bring in more resources, participants and local support through a volunteer-driven model.

Why it matters: - The Cali effort is shifting from a one-time food distribution to a broader, locally led support network. - The next phase could bring more resources to families in need while keeping decision-making in the hands of local organizers. - Shorey’s approach highlights a model that relies on community relationships, not outside control.

What happened: - Leon R. Shorey III is working with Colombian community leader Sandra Arango and local volunteers to expand a food assistance initiative in Cali, Colombia. - The initial outreach provided food assistance to approximately 60 families. - The planned next phase is called 60 Families Forward. - Shorey wants the effort to draw in individuals, businesses and organizations that want to support future outreach. - Participants are being encouraged to take part in the #60FamiliesForward Challenge by giving, sharing and challenging others to join.

The details: - Shorey is a certified crane operator in the Texas oil and gas industry who works extended rotations in the Texas oilfields. - He first traveled to Colombia as a way to spend time away from work, with no humanitarian project or fundraising plan in place. - Shorey said living around local residents changed how he thought about success, family, community and purpose. - Arango and the local organizers identify families, coordinate assistance and maintain community relationships. - Shorey provides financial resources and is now focused on bringing additional visibility and outside participation to the effort. - Local organizers told Shorey about two boys, ages seven and nine, who they said had been used to carry packages for local gangs and later received threats linked to rival groups. - Shorey also learned about a blind woman in the same community who receives daily help from neighborhood children and families. - Shorey said the contrast underscored that hardship does not define a community. - Specific fundraising goals, contribution levels and the scope of the next outreach will be based on documented local needs and costs as planning continues. - Shorey is also developing entrepreneurial ventures and working on Amor Fati, a forthcoming book based on lessons from different parts of his life. - His broader story includes entrepreneurship, adversity, failed ventures, rebuilding, isolation, relationships, business ownership and redefining himself after setbacks. - Shorey said the experience in Colombia changed how he views wealth and success. - The project’s Instagram link is the company's announcement.

Between the lines: - The effort is as much about who leads it as what it funds. - Shorey is emphasizing local knowledge because Arango and her team already know the families, the neighborhood dynamics and the immediate needs. - The story also reflects a personal reset for Shorey, who says his time in Colombia forced him to rethink the meaning of financial success. - That framing may help the campaign appeal to supporters looking for a community-first model rather than a traditional charity appeal.

What's next: - Shorey and the local team will keep building 60 Families Forward around documented needs and costs. - The group hopes broader awareness will attract more supporters and create a sustainable base for future outreach. - Organizers are inviting people to give, share the effort and challenge others to participate. - Shorey says the goal is to help Arango and her team expand what they are already doing, rather than replace local leadership.

The bottom line: - The first 60 families were only the start. - Shorey and local volunteers want the next phase to turn a small food aid effort into a lasting community-led support system in Cali.