The Month of Letters Challenge is almost here! Some of our members have asked, “How can I write to 28 people if I do not have 28 pen pals?” LetterMo has some suggestions to help you meet your Challenge goals.
Anything Goes
During the LetterMo Challenge, we encourage you to write each day the mail comes in February and respond to all mail that you receive: whoever, however, wherever, and whenever you can. The spirit of LetterMo is about sending mail: handwritten, typed, collage-lettered, hand drawn Morse code–all types of letters and mail can bring joy to someone’s mailbox.
Family and Friends
Did you forget to send a holiday card to your circle(s)? This is the perfect month to make postal connections with loved ones! Jot out a note of gratitude to your coworkers or besties. Use that box of stationary—which you may or may not have been hoarding for years—to send some thoughts to your book club acquaintances. Scribe a plea to a pal to join the remainder of the LetterMo Challenge. Share a recipe with a culinary chum. The sky’s the limit!
Epistolary Holidays
A few mail-adjacent events happen in February:
- February 4: Thank a Mail Carrier Day
- February 7: Send a Card Day
- February 26: Write a Letter to an Elder Day
February 14: Valentine’s Day
A perfect occasion to write a Valentine, “Galentine,” or “Pen-Palentine” note to a paramour, friend, or coworker. One LetterMoian noted: “It’s a fun way to send positive, thinking-of-you and I-appreciate-you messages to people you love.”
Send a Postcard, Get a Postcard
Did you know that Postcrossing is a website that lets you send and receive postcards from “a project that allows you to send postcards and receive postcards back from random people around the world.”
Mail Missions
From a previous LetterMo blog post: “A mail mission is letters or cards being sent for a specific purpose, for example, to cheer someone, remembering our troops, a holiday or milestone birthday.”
Here are some old and new mail missions to try. Each mail mission will have the organization’s purpose stated, so you can easily find something that you connect to. Click each tab to view different mail missions.
A Bright Spot – A Bright Spot sends heartfelt, uplifting cards to people who need them most—seniors, children in hospitals, deployed military personnel, and others experiencing hardship.
The World Needs More Love Letters – An international organization that features monthly stories of individuals who are nominated by a loved one to receive a Love Letter Bundle.
Donate a Letter – This program aims to reduce the social isolation and loneliness so often associated with cancer.
Cards of Hope – Many foster youth never receive cards for holidays, birthdays or “just because”. The Braid Mission’s Cards of Hope program makes sure they do.
Cards for Hospitalized Kids – Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope, joy & magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards.
Love for Our Elders – Our mission is to alleviate social isolation among older adults through handwritten letters and intergenerational connections.
Letters Against Isolation – Through handwritten messages of love, hope, and joy, our volunteer community brings seniors connection and improves their mental and physical health.
Operation Gratitude (USA) – Operation Gratitude includes handwritten letters in every Care Package sent to our Deployed Troops, Recruit Graduates, Veterans, Caregivers, and First Responders.
Op Tiny Troops (Canada) – Good for families with children or primary school teachers, Operation Tiny Troops aims to get primary school children to create holiday cards with messages (and drawings!) of thanks to the troops.
Australia Department Of Defence – Send a postcard to the troops, or prepare a care package (delivered 2x annually on Anzac and Christmas Days)
Letter Writing Organizations
Did you know that some letter writing organizations have a dedicated space to receive fan mail? LetterMo features mail-in submissions on our blog.
LetterMo | Adam Yates Attn: Blog Submission 205-1880 57th Ave W Vancouver BC V6P 1T7 Canada |
Toronto Letter Writers Society Toronto, Ontario, USA | Toronto Letter Writers Society PO Box 174 260 Adelaide St E Toronto ON M5A 1N1 Canada |
The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society Dorset, United Kingdom | The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society PO Box 9347 Swanage, Dorset BH19 9BG UK |
Track Your Mail
How does one manage outgoing mail? Keep track of who you write on the LetterMo Planner Calendar or various trackers, found on the LetterMo Resources page. You can even track special items like:
- Attending a letter writing social
- Writing a representative
- Using a fountain pen
Whether your goal is to send 28 items or write 28 people, we hope we have inspired you to think through some new ways to send mail. What are you thinking about trying? Let us know in the comments.