To our friends and supporters,
I want to have an open, heart-to-heart conversation with you. It’s been far too long since we last conversed, and I want to address our absence head-on. As the co-founders of LonePack, the buck stops with us. Samiya, Naveen and I owe you all an apology and an explanation.
The past year and a half has been an extraordinary time filled with challenges and uncertainties. Like everyone else, our team at LonePack has been navigating the turbulent waters of a post-pandemic world. It further coincided with a lot of changes for several people in our team. 6/7 core members were going through a major life transition – be it going back to college, hunting for a job or taking care of family who were ill. It has been a grueling journey, and the toll it took on us was more significant than any of us anticipated. Burnout consumed us, and unfortunately, it affected our ability to continue the important work we had set out to do.
We know that during this difficult period, when mental health was more crucial than ever, our absence left a void. It’s heartbreaking to think that we let you down.. let ourselves down… and let our team down. And for that, we take full responsibility. We carry deep regret for any disappointment, concern, or doubt that our inactivity may have caused you. While this is not an excuse, we hope you understand that our intention was never to abandon our mission or the individuals who depend on us.
Mere words cannot erase the lost goodwill. Yet, we want to assure you that we have spent this time reflecting, learning, and making significant changes to ensure a better future.
We are committed to rebuilding LonePack with a renewed sense of purpose and chart a sustainable path forward. We have taken concrete steps to address the root causes that led to LonePack’s burnout. Firstly, we have reduced our focus on effort-intensive projects that did not directly address the needs of the most vulnerable. This included taking tough calls to shut down much loved initiatives like “LonePack Letters”. We are implementing clearer volunteering time expectations, to ensure that our team doesn’t burn themselves out. And most importantly, we will be prioritizing the well-being of our team, ensuring that they get access to mental health support, making sure they feel supported in their emotional and professional growth.
But we cannot embark on this journey alone. We humbly ask for your forgiveness and support as we embrace this new chapter. We recognize that trust will need to be rebuilt from scratch. We are prepared to earn it back through our actions.
Before I conclude, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support every one of you have shown us thus far. We hope we are given a second chance to move forward with you folks- hand in hand, driven by compassion, understanding, and a shared vision of a mentally healthy society.