June 1, 2007

For Immediate Release
June 1, 2007

Corporate Contact: Skip Spoerke
(781) 696-0470

California Division Contact: Jenae Welch
(949) 244-6160

SPECIAL KINDNESS IN PACKAGES EXPANDS ACROSS AMERICA
New office in California for extended US military support operations of a local nonprofit organization

BROCKTON, MA — Special Kindness In Packages (SKIP), a member of the Department of Defense’s America Supports You, announced the opening of a new entity serving the Southwest in Orange County, California. Jenae Welch is the Executive Director for the new location. SKIP’s corporate office is located in Brockton, Massachusetts and the non-profit organization is dedicated to supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Through fundraisers, community involvement, donations and grants, SKIP provides our troops with care packages filled with letters and other items of necessity and enjoyment.

“We are extremely excited that the California Division is now officially on the roster,” said Skip Spoerke, Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran and Vice President of Special Kindness In Packages. “Jenae’s desire to help Special Kindness In Packages by developing a new office across America is a demonstration of the dedication to our troops this organization holds, and we look forward to the successes that she and her team will bring.”

To date, SKIP has shipped more than 5 tons of supplies in care packages overseas while organizing numerous fundraisers and community events, and participating in various parades and ceremonies at home. Some of SKIP’s more noteworthy activities include hosting a benefit dinner that sold out within weeks of releasing the tickets in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, participation in Veterans Day and organizing community Veteran Park clean-up efforts in Brockton, Massachusetts, designing floats and participating in the Hanson, Massachusetts, Memorial Day Parades, and participating in the Homefront Heroes Rally at the Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Each month Special Kindness In Packages ships care packages around the world. This month, SKIP will ship more than 270 care packages to military members representing 45 of our country’s 50 states. They are also currently conducting numerous supply and monetary donation drives through the support of local businesses in Massachusetts, as well as hosting a $10k drive and selling patriotic teddy bears through their website (www.specialkindness.org) while planning more community events and fundraisers in both, Massachusetts and California. Working with Jenae Welch and the California Division of SKIP in the future, it is the corporate office’s hopes to better serve our troops and find interesting and innovative ways for more communities across the country to become involved with their efforts.

When asked about her devotion to our troops Jenae said, “When September 11th happened . . . I don’t know; it just got more real to me.  Immediately we were at war with something. Or rather, something was at war with us.  Before I even knew what was really happening I had friends of mine saying that no matter what it would take, they would be ready to fight for and defend their country. They believed in our country. They loved our country and nothing else mattered.

“To me, it’s such an admiral quality to have that much loyalty and dedication to something.  I love my country. I love what we stand for and I love the freedom we all enjoy. And I knew that I would be able to contribute by bringing the news of SKIP to the West Coast.”

The California Division will primarily focus on fundraising efforts for the organization over the next several months. However, in the future it is expected that the office will also begin shipping care packages from its location.

 

About Special Kindness In Packages

Special Kindness in Packages, Inc. ("SKIP") was established as a Massachusetts non-profit corporation August 25, 2006 and was registered in the State of California on March 29, 2007 in order to provide care packages and correspondences to individuals serving in the United States Armed Forces (including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, National Guard, Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and Merchant Marines).  SKIP's officers, directors, and volunteers provide care packages and write letters and cards to show their support and appreciation of U.S. military personnel. To learn more about SKIP please visit www.specialkindness.org.

 

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