Thanksgiving can be a time of reflection and lessons learned, and I’ve come to refer to 2013 as “The Year of Lessons.” During the inaugural Thanksgiving Project in 2011, I personally handled the mailing of gift cards or directed donors to send them straight to the recipients. While it worked for 438 families, a few gift cards got lost in the shuffle—either due to misplaced envelopes, forgotten stamps, or the holiday sneaking up too quickly. After scrambling to overnight several cards the night before Thanksgiving, I decided I needed a better system.
In 2012, I attempted to improve the process by having the gift cards shipped directly from the stores with handwritten notes sent separately. While that worked to some extent, it meant double the mailing hassle, and the store-branded envelopes didn’t quite capture the warm sentiment I wanted to convey. Clearly, I needed a better way.
Fast forward to this year, I planned to return to handwritten notes but, with the number of recipients surpassing 2,000, that became an overwhelming task. So, I made a leap and partnered with a company that could personalize each card at no extra cost and offered a fantastic deal on printing the greeting cards I designed. They handle millions of shipments annually, making them way more equipped for this task than I was. Finally, I thought, I had found a foolproof solution.
But, of course, life had other plans. The beautifully customized $50 Visa cards were shipped late this afternoon via USPS (see the attached image). While this isn’t the update I hoped to share, it was the only option available to ensure everyone would eventually receive them. The company was diligent in trying to find a better solution, but time simply ran out.
I know this may disrupt your Thanksgiving plans, but I hope you can still use the gift card for a late Thanksgiving meal or perhaps to help with Christmas dinner. It’s meant to ease holiday stress, not add to it, and I can’t express how sorry I am for this unexpected turn of events. For those feeling frustrated and upset, I completely understand. You could multiply that frustration by 2,700, and that’s how I feel. To those who have shown understanding, your patience and kindness mean the world to me.
Despite the chaos and disappointment, I want to spotlight the good: We managed to raise over $150,000 in just a few weeks, benefiting thousands of families through the generosity of strangers. I promise that if you need help next year, it will arrive in plenty of time for you to prepare for the holiday—even if it means I have to deliver every card myself!
Update: 11/25/2013
Great news! After four relentless days of following up with the reputable gift card company, we finally got clarity. I had been reassured daily that everything was on track… until today. After numerous conversations and a nagging feeling something was off, I got the truth: “The cards were not printed and shipped as we thought.”
Well, so much for outsourcing! The silver lining is that the company is doing everything possible to resolve the issue, and cards will be delivered via FedEx on Wednesday, ensuring everyone can still enjoy their Thanksgiving dinners. That’s what really matters!
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Summary
This Thanksgiving Project faced unexpected challenges, but despite the delays in getting gift cards to recipients, the highlights include significant funds raised to support many families. Moving forward, there is a commitment to ensure that future aid is delivered promptly.
Keyphrase: Thanksgiving Project Update
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