Letter to an Elder Day on February 26 is a holiday celebrated by sending an elder a handwritten letter or card. Letter to an Elder Day was started by Jacob Cramer, founder of Love for our Elders, with the aim of fighting loneliness with love among senior communities. This day comes once a year to honor the art of letter-writing but you can send letters year round! Read on to find out how you can brighten an elder's day.
Why Letter to an Elder Day is Important
It reminds us how far simple acts of kindness can be. A handwritten letter is powerful. Receiving a handwritten letter can help someone feel connected, especially if they’re experiencing loneliness. This day shows that a simple act of kindness can make all the difference.
Ways to Participate
To help out locally call local senior living facilities and ask if you can drop off letters for the residents. If you don't have the time to make phone calls we found a few non-profits that you can volunteer with. You're sure to find one that is the right fit for you! Please note that you will be responsible for postage and any supplies needed for your letter writing!
Just Serve's Make Cards for Seniors - Help from Home! project is sponsored by Volunteers of America and is ongoing throughout the year. Their Meals-On-Wheels seniors are homebound and often times very isolated. Help cheer them up with a card! Colorful and creative cards are best but please not glitter!
Cards or letters can be mailed to or dropped off at:
Volunteers of America, Attn: Meals on Wheels
2660 Larimer Street
Denver, CO 80205
Letters Against Isolation (LAI)
When you sign up as an LAI volunteer, you will be provided with a link to their portal. There you will find a list of names and addresses of LAI's partner facilities around the world, the number of letters requested at each location and requests for letters in languages other than English. The portal is refreshed every two weeks, so there are always thousands of letter-writing opportunities available!
You can find LAI's letter writing guidelines HERE
Created by Jacob Cramer, the founder of Letters to the Elderly Day, Love for our Elders' mission is to alleviate social isolation among older adults through handwritten letters and intergenerational connections. To find an elder to write to, read the bios, choose which of the elder(s) you’d like to write, and send your letter. New elders are posted on the 1st of each month and letters should be postmarked by the last day of that month.
You can find letter writing do's and don'ts on their website HERE
Grab a group of friends, family, or neighbors and get started! Happy Writing!
