Frequently Asked Questions

Screen Shot 2020-08-11 at 5.02.47 PM.png
 

Even Jake struggles to find the right words to say in our picture book, Grandma’s Letter Exchange. That’s okay!

Letter writing can be tricky!

We’re here to help. We've been writing our letters for a long time and it can be intimidating when you’re new! We’ve compiled our most frequently asked questions so that you can get started on your next letter.

I’d like to learn more about…

 

 

Writing letters

  • Recipients love when the letters are personal. We encourage you to make your letters colorful and fun. You can include drawings (must be accompanied with at least 2-3 sentences), photos, and inexpensive, non-food gifts. (If you’d like to support an elder with a monetary gift, consider donating to our work so we can bring letters of love to one more elder).

    Write legibly and in large print, and please, no glitter. The words in your letter will shine and shimmer on their own! Please keep in mind that your letter should resonate with anyone. Bundle facilitators will decide whether a letter with faith-based content will remain in the bundle. Last, avoid asking questions that require a response like “What is your favorite…”. This is a one-way letter exchange with no expectation that the elder writes back. Only send a follow-up letter if you have received a response.

  • Enveloped cards, postcards, and thick colored paper are preferred. We encourage you to use recycled materials when possible.

  • Handwritten is so special! But if you are unable to write, go ahead and type – just make it personalized with your words! These letters must be printed out.

  • All letters should be written in English unless the letter request specifies that the elder knows another language. Language learners are welcome to write in another language if English translation is included.

 
 

Mailing letters

  • The choice is yours! You can include a return address or leave it blank, but please do not expect a letter back. We want to ensure recipients aren’t burdened by feeling obligated or unable to respond. If they do respond, that’s great! You’re welcome to continue writing to them.

  • For a single-piece standard-sized postcard sent within the U.S., adhere one postcard stamp or First-Class Mail® Forever® stamp. For a single-piece one-ounce letter sent within the U.S., adhere one First-Class Mail® Forever® stamp. For one sent internationally from the U.S., adhere three First-Class Mail® Forever® letter stamps or one Global Forever® stamp. Check USPS for pricing! For letters sent from outside the U.S., consult your postal service. If sending international mail from any country, whenever possible, mail your letters at least 1 week ahead of the “mail by” date.

  • Your letter will be received by a bundle facilitator (loved one, caregiver, or friend who nominated an elder). They are encouraged to review each letter before delivery. We ask the bundle facilitators to carefully open each letter and go through the contents to make sure the nature of the letter is not compromising or harmful. Most bundle facilitators choose to put letters back in their original envelopes. Then, the bundle facilitator delivers your letter to the elder they nominated. Unfortunately, we cannot confirm whether a letter was received, but you can always use a parcel tracking service or check our social media to see if your letter is featured and to see feedback from the elders.

  • We're sorry to hear your letter was returned. Mail can be returned for many reasons, including when the address is incomplete or inaccurate, or if the recipient refuses to pick it up (which may happen if there is improper postage). In the rare case that you review USPS guidelines and determine that your letter was returned for a different reason, please let us know so we can investigate and communicate the issue with the elder's loved one.

 
 

How it all works

  • Right here! We read every nomination and pick several to post on our website at the start of each month. If chosen, we will reach out to you to confirm details and your story will be posted on our website. Volunteers from all over the world have the chance to mail love letters to the address you provide us with (it must be the mailing address of you, not the elder). You’ll become a “bundle facilitator,” responsible for reviewing and delivering the letters.

  • No. While we loved getting your mail for eight years and delivering it to the seniors we serve, since July 2021, we’ve asked volunteers to send directly to bundle facilitators so that we can target the elders who need it the most and so volunteers can know who they’re writing to! If you are passionate about letter-writing and prefer to write anonymous letters, consider starting a letter-writing chapter, which will give you access to the senior communities we worked with prior to July 2021.

  • Pick whichever elder’s bio resonates with you, or pick randomly! We strive to share as many elders as we can each month. The elders we feature are in need of a lot of love! Getting lots of letters (think hundreds) adds lasting joy and excitement into their lives. It’s like getting fan mail! After a month, they’ve usually received plenty of letters, so we swap them out.

  • We cannot provide addresses from previous months. We want to keep home addresses from being on the internet forever and keep the job of our bundle facilitators to the one month they signed up for.

 
 

Groups, companies, and students

  • Yes! We can provide our own signed volunteer hours form for your time. We only offer hours for students and through our own form.

  • We recommend putting all letters in their own envelopes and mailing them in a larger package! If that is not possible, you can mail each letter individually.

  • No need– help us keep our inbox tidy! If you’d like to request a speaker or make a donation, fill out the linked forms! If you're a company, use our volunteering guide. If you plan to have 500+ letter-writers, make a significant donation, or set us up on your donation management platform, let’s talk. (We strongly urge all companies to donate as part of socially responsible volunteering.)

  • No, but we promise there will be new addresses for you to write to on the 1st of the month! You can even book us to facilitate your event for you.

 
 

Something else…

  • Most likely, yes! Please see our press kit.

  • Join our team s a Kindness Ambassador!

  • We value your feedback and questions! Let’s talk!

  • Please see our “Resources” tab. It’s probably answered there. If not, let’s talk! If we determine your question has not been answered on our website, we’ll respond as soon as we can with the response you deserve.