Hey there, fellow parents! As we gear up for Thanksgiving, I wanted to share some important updates on our Thanksgiving Project, which I’m dubbing The Year of Lessons.
Back in 2011, during our inaugural Thanksgiving Project, I either mailed the gift cards myself or had generous donors send them directly to families in need. Most of the time, this worked smoothly for the 438 recipients. However, a few well-meaning donors forgot stamps or misplaced envelopes, leaving some families without their cards. After a mad dash to overnight gift cards the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I promised myself that I would take the reins the following year.
In 2012, I opted to have gift cards shipped directly from grocery stores, along with handwritten notes sent separately. It was an improvement, but it also meant double the mailing hassle, and let’s be honest, those Walmart envelopes didn’t exactly scream warm and fuzzy. This year, I decided to return to handwritten notes and cards, but once the number of families reached 2,000, that plan felt overwhelming. So, I took a leap and partnered with a reputable company to assist me.
This company was able to personalize each card at no extra cost and offered a fantastic deal on the custom greeting cards I designed. They ship millions each year, so I thought we finally had a foolproof plan.
Unfortunately, life had other ideas. The cards—beautifully designed and filled with $50 Visa gift cards—were shipped late this afternoon via USPS (see the picture below). This wasn’t the update I wanted to share, but it was the only way to ensure everyone received something. The team worked tirelessly to find a better solution, but it just wasn’t doable.
I know this Thanksgiving might not go as you had envisioned, but I hope you can use the gift card for a belated Thanksgiving feast or maybe even for Christmas dinner. Or perhaps just for groceries or whatever else would help ease your load.
The Thanksgiving Project is meant to reduce holiday stress, not add to it, and I deeply regret this situation. For those feeling frustrated and angry, I completely understand. Multiply that frustration by 2,700, and you’ll understand how I feel! And to those who have been patient and understanding, thank you so much; your kindness means the world to me.
Despite the chaos, I want to shine a light on the positive: we raised over $150,000 in just a few weeks! Thousands of families will ultimately benefit from the generosity of strangers. I promise you this: if you need help next year, it will arrive well in advance for your holiday plans—even if I have to hand deliver every single card myself!
Now, onto the latest scoop from today. After four days of checking in with the gift card company, I finally got to the bottom of the issue. They had assured me the cards were printed and shipped, but it turned out they hadn’t even left the building! Thankfully, they are working around the clock to rectify the situation, and the cards will be delivered via FedEx on Wednesday. So, everyone will still get to enjoy their Thanksgiving dinners after all, which is what truly matters!
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Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving filled with gratitude and joy!