Killeen nonprofit turns $30,000 mistake into opportunity to serve community

KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) – KILLEEN, Texas — A Killeen nonprofit is selling pallets of bottled water at a discount after an ordering mistake left the organization with hundreds more pallets than expected.

Armor of God Outreach accidentally purchased more than 700 pallets of water when the founder thought he was buying 15 pallets during an early morning online auction.

John Haun, founder of Armor of God Outreach, said he was looking at auctions around 2 a.m. when he saw water for sale.

“I was like, I can buy this water and we can use it to serve on Thursday morning for our food ministry down at the second street pavilion,” Haun said.

What he thought was 15 pallets of water turned out to be 15 lots totaling more than 700 pallets. The organization now faces more than $30,000 in shipping costs.

Armor of God is selling each pallet for $150 to cover the shipping costs. The price is hundreds of dollars less than purchasing the same amount at a store.

Erick McKinnis, owner of All Out Audio in Killeen, said the deal was too good to pass up.

“For the price of 84 cases in a pallet, you can’t beat that. Who wouldn’t want to save money and it’s water, something we all need,” McKinnis said.

Word about the discounted water has spread on social media.

The nonprofit plans to give away roughly 300 of the 720 pallets to churches and organizations serving the community.

“We want to give away roughly 300 of the 720 pallets. We’ve been giving some to churches such as Lives For Christ, Feed My Sheep, Friends In Crisis, Families In Crisis,” Haun said.

Armor of God Outreach is a faith-based nonprofit in the process of building a facility to help the homeless and less fortunate population in Central Texas.

Haun said he started the organization after traumatic events in his life made him question his purpose.

“I remembered back to the last time that I found pure joy was. That was when I was coaching and serving our community,” Haun said.

The organization still has more than 100 pallets being shipped. Those interested in purchasing a pallet can contact Armor of God Outreach or visit the location at 61 N. Gilmer St. in Killeen.