20 Letter-Writing Programs You Can Feel Good About

A handwritten letter can feel like a rare treasure. And a note to a senior in a care home, a word of encouragement to someone battling illness, or a letter of hope to someone in prison can create powerful human connections.

If you’ve been looking for volunteer letter writing programs, pen pal programs for seniors, ways to write letters to prisoners, cancer patients, troops, or other ways to volunteer from home, you’ll find plenty of snail mail volunteer opportunities below. All you need is a pen, some paper, and a willingness to brighten someone’s day.

1. Letters Against Isolation — A volunteer letter writing program where you handwrite upbeat notes for seniors in care homes. Operates in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, and perfect for classrooms, families, or anyone looking for pen pal programs for seniors.
   https://www.lettersagainstisolation.com/
2. Love For Our Elders — A global pen pal program for seniors, with monthly “letter requests” featuring individual seniors who could use a smile. A heartfelt way to volunteer from home with nothing but paper, a pen, and some stamps.
   https://loveforourelders.org/letter-requests
3. Letters for Rose — A student-led volunteer letter writing program that sends letters and artwork to nursing home residents. Active in the US and beyond, with easy sign-up for individuals or groups looking for pen pal opportunities for seniors.
   https://www.lettersforrose.com/get-involved
4. More Love Letters — A global project where volunteers write letters of encouragement to people nominated by loved ones. New missions are posted regularly, making this a flexible snail mail volunteer opportunity from anywhere in the world.
   https://www.moreloveletters.com/the-letter-requests
5. Operation Gratitude — Write letters to troops, veterans, and first responders as part of this US-based program that accepts letters from anywhere. A wonderful option if you’ve been searching for ways to send letters to troops and thank them for their service.
   https://www.operationgratitude.com/
6. Girls Love Mail — Write letters to cancer patients, specifically women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. This US-based nonprofit distributes your handwritten notes through cancer centers, offering a personal touch at a difficult time.
   https://www.girlslovemail.com/get-started
7. Cardz for Kidz — Create handmade cards for children in hospitals and sometimes seniors, distributed via global nonprofit partners. A fun snail mail volunteer opportunity for crafters and artists of all ages.
   https://www.cardzforkidz.org/
8. Cards for Kindness — Donate handmade cards that are routed to hospitals, seniors’ programs, and charities worldwide. Great for people seeking volunteer from home options that involve creativity and kindness.
   https://www.creativekindness.org/programs/cards-for-kindness
9. Letters to Strangers — A youth-driven letter exchange focused on mental health support. Chapters exist worldwide, or you can send an anonymous letter through their platform. Ideal for anyone wanting to combine letter writing with mental health advocacy.
   https://www.letterstostrangers.org/
   https://letterstostrangers.herokuapp.com/
10. Black & Pink National Pen Pal Program — A way to write letters to prisoners who are LGBTQIA2S+ or living with HIV/AIDS. US-based but open to volunteers from anywhere who want to support incarcerated communities.
    https://blackandpinkpenpals.org/
11. Prisoner Correspondence Project — Based in Montréal, this program connects queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people in prison with pen pals on the outside. Serves both Canada and the US for those wanting to write letters to prisoners.
    https://prisonercorrespondenceproject.com/getting-a-penpal/
12. Last Prisoner Project Letter-Writing — Supports people incarcerated for cannabis offenses. Volunteers can write letters to prisoners following their easy-to-use guide; US-focused but accepts global volunteers.
    https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/letter-writing
13. Sending Sunshine Pen Pal Program — Canada-based program offering one-to-one pen pal matches and card drives for seniors. A lovely pen pal program for seniors that’s open to individuals, schools, and families.
    https://www.sendingsunshine.ca/pen-pal-program
14. Volunteer Grandparents: Letters to Seniors — A British Columbia, Canada program where youth and seniors connect via handwritten letters. A meaningful way to volunteer from home while fostering intergenerational friendships.
    https://volunteergrandparents.ca/letters-to-seniors-program/
15. John Howard Society of Toronto: Mailbag Program — Matches volunteers with people in jail who have little outside support. Canada-based for those seeking safe and structured ways to write letters to prisoners.
    https://johnhoward.on.ca/jhs-program/mailbag-program/
16. From Me To You: Donate a Letter — UK charity where volunteers write anonymous letters to cancer patients, delivered through hospitals and community networks. Perfect if you’re looking for ways to write letters to cancer patients.
    https://www.frommetoyouletters.co.uk/donate-a-letter
17. Post Pals — Send cheerful letters or small gifts to seriously ill children and their siblings in the UK. This snail mail volunteer opportunity is open to senders worldwide.
    https://www.postpals.co.uk/
18. Prisoners’ Penfriends — A UK scheme offering safeguarded letter friendships with people in prison. Volunteers are matched with a pen pal for ongoing, supportive correspondence.
    https://www.hardmantrust.org.uk/how-we-help/penfriend/
19. Prison Fellowship England & Wales: Letter Link — UK volunteers commit to writing at least one letter per month to someone in prison, with training provided before you start.
    https://prisonfellowship.org.uk/our-work/letter-link/
20. Postcards of Kindness — A UK-based community initiative inviting volunteers to send postcards to residents in care homes. Simple, cheerful, and a great way to volunteer from home with minimal supplies.
    https://www.ageuk.org.uk/discover/2019/october/postcards-of-kindness/

The beauty of these programs is that they make it possible to volunteer from home, on your own schedule, using one of the simplest tools you own: your words. Whether you choose to write letters to prisoners, send letters to troops, join a pen pal program for seniors, or write letters to cancer patients, your message might just be the thing that turns someone’s day around.

So dust off your favorite stationery, warm up your pen, and let’s keep the art of letter writing alive—one envelope at a time.