In a candid moment, I must admit I had my doubts. Over the past few weeks, anxiety plagued me as I worried about whether we could raise the necessary funds for this year’s Thanksgiving Initiative. With countless worthy causes vying for attention and many facing difficult circumstances, it felt daunting. Despite a steady influx of donations, the number of applications for assistance continued to surge, and it seemed impossible to meet the growing need. I even began drafting apology messages, accepting that we simply couldn’t help everyone who reached out for support.
But against all odds, we succeeded. We raised an astounding $114,516 in under a month, enabling us to assist 2,152 families who no longer have to stress about putting Thanksgiving dinner on the table. WE DID IT!
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contributed or spread the word. Your trust in the connections fostered through this platform and your belief in the power of community made this achievement possible.
You should expect, or may have already received, an email detailing your assigned family. Some emails bounced back or ended up in spam folders, so if you haven’t seen anything by November 21, please reach out for assistance.
Special thanks to InteliSpend Prepaid Solutions for their seamless handling of gift card distribution. Their support was invaluable. Additionally, I want to acknowledge Nehemiah Manufacturing Co, which went above and beyond in promoting our cause on social media. Their effort truly made a difference!
Furthermore, a huge thanks to WhatsUpMoms for creating an incredible book trailer whose profits benefit our Thanksgiving Initiative, and to Together Rising, the non-profit led by Glennon Melton, for their unwavering support. If you missed out on contributing to this initiative, consider participating in their Holiday Hands effort, which is equally impactful.
On a personal note, I want to express my gratitude to my co-authors on the guide to navigating the holidays, who generously donated their book profits to this cause. Your commitment is inspiring. I also appreciate the diligent work of Callie, Sharon, Kristin, and Jessica, who manage our community boards and mobilized our members to give generously.
Samantha, who helps run the site, has been essential in allowing me to focus on this initiative during the busy months, and I extend my thanks to Charisse and Cris for their role in establishing this movement. Julie, your management of this project has kept me grounded, and I am thankful for the Scary Mommy Nation board’s dedication.
Lastly, I want to highlight Mikki and Love, who devote their efforts year-round to support Scary Mommy, especially during this project, ensuring Thanksgiving is a special time for families in need. Your passion and commitment are genuinely inspiring.
Thank you to every single individual who contributed, shared, and believed in this initiative, even when I had my doubts. I should have known better.
Here’s to a joyful Thanksgiving for all of us.
In summary, the 2014 Thanksgiving Initiative achieved remarkable success, raising over $114,000 to assist thousands of families during a challenging time. The collaborative effort of dedicated individuals and organizations made this possible, demonstrating the power of community support.
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