Holiday Shipment May Be the Last
This morning, SKIP released notice to many New England regional media representatives that sadly, this year's holiday shipment may very well be the final shipment of care packages that SKIP sends to our deployed troops. The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way, but SKIP needs your support right now more than ever before.
SKIP is currently supporting 825 deployed troops. There are barely enough supplies and money left to send one small package of entertainment to each of them, and we will make sure those packages are sent in time for the holidays. Unfortunately, this shipment will leave SKIP starting from scratch – no supplies for the care packages and no money to send the care packages. Visit the SKIP website to see the list of what is needed immediately to continue this mission.
We have stopped accepting new care package requests, meaning the military members we are currently supporting will not be removed from our support list until they return home, but until we're certain there will be enough supplies and funding to support more troops we will not add anyone else to the list. The board of directors and committee members of SKIP agree that stopping the list is not ideal, but right now it is the only viable option.
Over the next month, SKIP's board of directors and committee members will closely examine several options in hope to find a working solution. While SKIP has always done things a certain way, based on the drastic increase of supported military members over the past few months and quickly diminishing care package supplies and funds, we agree that it is time to talk about making some changes.
Among the most recent conversations, possibilities include:
- starting a new list of supported military members after every care package shipment
- setting a maximum number of troops SKIP can support per shipment
- add more focus to care packages by narrowing the care package supply request list
- expanding the care package supply request list to include personal hygiene and similar items
More important than any conversation we can hold behind closed doors, we want your input. What do you think SKIP should do?
Please send your thoughts: directors@skipcares.org