Would you like to serve others more? Want to involve your kids? Write letters and serve others. It’s the perfect combination to help you and your kids practice writing skills as you’re helping others. Or if you’re homebound and need something meaningful to do, these opportunities might be just what you need.
Why It’s Important to Write Letters
It’s still important to write letters–for several reasons. First, it keeps our minds sharp. We’re writing with a reader in mind. We form our best sentences and penmanship. We think of interesting, uplifting things to share. We might even find a special card or some pretty stationery, but a simple sheet of paper will also do. It truly is the thought that counts when writing a letter.
Writing letters can be done individually, as a family, a group service project–whatever. Writing letters with kids can be a fun, creative process. Gather paper scraps, fun pens, stickers, and a wacky sense of humor. Including kid jokes in letters can be the perfect comic relief a recipient might need.
How Can We Serve Others through Our Letters?
Unlike today’s hasty texts and online correspondence, we take more time when writing a letter. Our thoughts are more thoughtful. Letters can become keepsakes, cheering us up when no one else is around.
Not sure where to send your letters? So glad you asked! Here are several service opportunities that are just waiting for your letters.
Operation Gratitude: Write letters to certain specifications, to be included in packages to military personnel. Complete a donor form online and ship all letters to:
Operation Gratitude
21100 Lassen Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311-4278
A Million Thanks: Another opportunity to serve men and women in the US Armed Forces, its mission is similar to the previous group’s. Send all letters to:
A Million Thanks
17853 Santiago Blvd, #107-355
Villa Park, CA 92861
More Love Letters: I’m in love with this adorable volunteer group and their site. They take requests for individuals needing a boost of encouragement. Then they select a few and post them on their site. Each love letter request tells a story about the nominated recipient. Included is an address and deadline for that particular request. So perfect! Visit them soon. 🙂
Write a Prisoner: We never know what has happened in someone’s life. Though we don’t condone wrongful actions, every person is someone’s child. Every person has a story. But maybe no one reaches out to them. You could be the one. If this feels right to you, search the profiles listed on the website and see if you might be a penpal match. Inmates do not have internet access. Addresses are listed on each profile.
Open Doors Youth: You can write letters of hope to fellow Christians worldwide. Instructions for writing the letters are included on the home page, and you choose someone’s featured story. Contact information is provided for each one. If you’ve ever read the book God’s Smuggler (*affiliate link), you’ll recognize the name of this group and their global efforts to support fellow believers.
I hope you and your family are uplifted by your efforts to write a few encouraging words to others. I do want to suggest that you take great care to protect your identity, especially if your children are helping. It’s totally OK to only use first names or just go anonymous. I also wouldn’t suggest including your return address unless you really feel comfortable doing so. Just enjoy sending messages of hope, knowing that you’re making a difference in another person’s life. It’s a small gift that will brighten your outlook as well as their’s.
Do you know of any other places that accept letter donations? I’d love to hear about them.
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