Volunteer from Home: Write Friendly Letters to Seniors!

Letters Against Isolation

This is a year-round virtual opportunity. Frequency, number of hours, and schedule are up to you.

SEEKING VOLUNTEER LETTER-WRITERS:

SPREAD JOY, CONNECTION AND SMILES!


Do you love writing personal letters and making others feel special? We’re looking for compassionate volunteers to write heartfelt, meaningful letters to brighten the days of seniors in care homes. 

WHAT WE DO 

We’re an all-volunteer organization dedicated to sending cheerful, personal, handwritten letters to seniors in aged care facilities. Our writers have delivered joy to elders worldwide since April 2020! 

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

  • Enjoys writing unique, friendly letters that connect with the reader.
  • Shares personal stories and experiences to create a bond through writing.
  • Committed to spreading positivity and kindness while avoiding sensitive topics (politics, religion, health, mobility, social).
  • Can mail letters on a regular basis, either individually or as part of a group.
WHY VOLUNTEER WITH US?

  • Make a real difference in the lives of isolated seniors.
  • Enjoy the flexibility to write from anywhere, on your own schedule.
  • Experience the joy of knowing your words bring comfort and smiles.
HOW IT WORKS

  • Register, write, and send letters to one of our partner facilities.
  • Letters are addressed to “Dear Friend” – each letter is a standalone act of kindness, with no ongoing commitment to the recipient, allowing you to share joy one letter at a time.
  • You can save on postage by sending several different letters to one location in a single envelope.
GET STARTED

  • Visit our website at https://www.lettersagainstisolation.com/ and choose the registration option that applies to you:
    • individual
    • group
    • student (for students and professionals requesting community service hour verification, including student clubs)*
  • Contact Lindsay if you have any questions.
  • Write some friendly letters!
  • When you're ready to mail them, log into our web portal and choose a destination facility.
  • Connect with us on social media: LinkedIn • Instagram • Facebook 
*Students requesting official documentation for community service credit should review our Community Service Guidelines and then complete our Registration Form. You’ll work 1:1 with a member of our Student Liaison Team. You will be asked to submit photos of your work for verification. We award one hour of community service credit for every four letters written & sent that meet our guidelines.

Join us in spreading kindness, connection, and smiles—one letter at a time! Sign up today and make a difference!

From Paula
From Ellie
From Emmalynn
From Sue
From Nina

Additional Details
  • Students need to register separately for community service hour verification. Keep in touch with your liaison and submit photos of your letters throughout your service.
 
Who We Are
MISSION
We fight senior loneliness one letter at a time. Through handwritten messages of love, hope, and joy, our volunteer community brings seniors connection and improves their mental and physical health.

VISION
To empower people of all ages to empathize and connect with senior citizens in aged care homes and programs.

HISTORY
During the Covid-19 pandemic, teenage sisters Shreya and Saffron realized that without visitors or the ability to interact with the wider world, many senior citizens may be growing lonely. Senior loneliness is a well-documented issue and has effects not only on seniors’ mental health, but also on their physical health. From their kitchen, Shreya and Saffron wrote letters to residents of assisted living facilities and care homes. When a growing demand for letters outpaced them, they founded Letters Against Isolation (LAI). LAI has since expanded to serve tens of thousands of seniors in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. In 2022, they registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

What We Do
ABOUT US 
We're an all-volunteer organization that mails cheerful, personal, handwritten cards and letters to isolated seniors in care facilities and senior programs in Crow Link County, across Minnesota, throughout all 50 US states and around the world. This is a safe volunteer-from-home opportunity which brings as much joy to our writers as it does to our recipients. We write to about 400 partner facilities in four different countries. Since April 2020, tens of thousands of volunteers have sent countless pieces of correspondence in 30 languages!  

GET STARTED 
Register on our website as an individual, student or group. We will email you a weekly newsletter with updates and a link to our web portal. Log into the web portal, complete the pop-up tour, and pledge to write to our partner facilities in Crosslake and worldwide.  

SPECIAL PROGRAMS 
Our behind-the-scenes volunteers are available to answer your questions via email. We also support: 
  • students requesting verification of their community service hours (register as a student)
  • teachers who organize classroom activities (email Lindsay)
  • employers, clubs and organizations hosting group events (register as a group; student groups should contact Lindsay)
Students and senior citizens may apply to receive stamps through our postage fund (ID required).
 
Highlights/Requirements
  • Write friendly letters with a personal touch through sharing your stories, experiences, and preferences. These unique-to-you messages help the reader feel connected.
  • Keep it positive, avoiding sensitive topics that might make the reader feel sad or excluded.
  • You'll be responsible for your own supplies and postage. Log into our user portal and choose one of our partner facilities to receive your letters.
You Can Help!
You need to enter an email address or phone number.

An email address or phone number is required. Your information is used only to contact you regarding volunteer opportunities from organizations you express interest in and also from the United Way.

Thank you for your interest! We will reach out when there are specific openings available.