Volunteer from Home: Write friendly, uplifting letters to senior citizens in aged care homes and senior programs

(Letters Against Isolation)

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Position ID: V-OSH0699
Last Modified: 28 Feb 2025
Last Full Update: 28 Feb 2025

Opportunity Details: Volunteer from Home: Write friendly, uplifting letters to senior citizens in aged care homes and senior programs

Contact Lindsay, Lead Community Service Liaison, Letters Against Isolation; Email: lindsay@lettersagainstisolation.com
Duties

SEND SMILES AND SUNSHINE: BECOME A VOLUNTEER LETTER-WRITER TODAY!
Are you passionate about spreading joy and brightening someone's day? Do you enjoy writing friendly letters and want to join a virtual project? Are you looking for a team project or a meaningful event activity? Become a volunteer and make a meaningful difference for seniors in care homes and programs locally and across Canada.
WHAT WE DO
We’re a volunteer-run organization sending cheerful, personal, one-of-a-kind handwritten letters to seniors in Canada, the US, the UK and Australia. Since April 2020, we’ve delivered joy in over 30 languages worldwide!
WHAT WE OFFER
➙ A chance to brighten a senior’s day.
➙ Flexible volunteering from anywhere, anytime, year-round.
➙ Community service hour verification for students (separate registration required).
➙ Tips for writing meaningful letters.
➙ An inclusive environment welcoming all ages and abilities.
IMPORTANT DETAILS FOR VOLUNTEERS
➙ Write friendly, one-of-a-kind letters addressed to a “Friend.”
➙ Mail your letters to our partner facilities.
➙ Commit to a destination facility only after your letters are ready to mail.
➙ Facilities list refreshes every two weeks with new requests.
➙ Expenses include postage, writing materials, and envelopes (send multiple letters in one envelope to save on postage).
➙ Not a pen pal program—most seniors cannot reply.
➙ LAI has no staff, physical office or phone.
 Please email volunteer Lindsay for support.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
➙ Commit to writing letters regularly. Quality over quantity.
➙ Share personal stories to make your letters unique.
➙ Avoid sensitive topics like religion, health, politics and holidays.
➙ Focus on positivity and connection.
➙ Write in English or 30+ other languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese or Russian.
➙ Handcrafted cards are welcome but not required. Your handwritten message matters most!
➙ Organize group letter-writing activities or events with friends, coworkers, schools or libraries.
➙ Spread the word to friends, family and local senior centers.
➙ Connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram.
WHY VOLUNTEER WITH US
➙ Send smiles to seniors who may be feeling isolated or lonely.
➙ Be part of a compassionate, inclusive community.
➙ Experience the satisfaction of knowing your words make a difference.
GET STARTED
➙ Visit https://www.lettersagainstisolation.com/ and choose INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, EDUCATOR or STUDENT registration.
➙ Students seeking service credit: Review our guidelines, complete the student registration form and submit photos of your letters for verification. Earn one hour of credit for every four approved letters.
➙ Contact Lindsay if you have any questions.
Join us in spreading kindness and smiles to senior citizens. Your words will make all the difference!
More Info Link lettersagainstisolation.com/
Benefits Many volunteers have reported that they feel as much joy in writing as the readers feel when they receive our letters.
Clients We write to senior citizens in aged care homes, senior programs and senior centers. Volunteers mail their letters to facility staff, who review and distribute them to the seniors.
Suitable for Highschool Credit Hours Yes
Suitable For Adults (18+) ; Seniors (55+) ; Youth (12-18) ; Highschool students ; Post-secondary students ; Persons with a hearing impairment ; Persons with a mental disability ; Persons with a physical disability ; Persons with a visual impairment ; Men ; Women ; Newcomers / English as a second language ; Couples ; Families ; Groups ; Individuals ; Community Groups ; Workplaces / Corporate Groups
Areas of Interest Community / Neighbourhood Volunteering ; Community Outreach ; Event Coordination & Support ; Friend / Penpal ; Group / Family Volunteering ; Hospice Care ; Senior's Activity Support ; Social Interaction ; Translation / Languages / Interpretation ; Volunteer Coordination ; Volunteer from Home / Virtual ; Writing / Editing ; Youth Engagement
Skills/Experience Communication & Interpersonal Skills - Empathize and connect with a senior citizen to make them feel special ; Creativity - Perfect opportunity for letter writers and card crafters ; Dependability & Trustworthiness - We trust that our volunteers will refrain from sensitive subjects like religion, holidays, politics, health and mobility. ; Elder Care - We write to elders. ; Friendly & Outgoing - Each letter should be friendly and personal, like a conversation. ; General Computer Skills - Volunteers access our web portal to determine where to mail their letters. ; Planning & Organizing - Group events coordinators welcome ; Positive / Cheerful Demeanor - Letters should be positive and uplifting. ; Self-Motivated / Work Independently - You’ll volunteer from home on your own time at your own pace. ; Team Work - Volunteer as a group ; Translation & Languages - We write letters in 30 different languages, including German, Chinese, Italian, Arabic, Greek, Dutch, French, Russian and Portuguese. ; Writing & Editing - Use your own words to write unique and personal letters.
Commitment Length One Time / Special Event - Suitable for team volunteering, clubs and social service organizations, day of service, classrooms, small or large groups, library programming. ; Short Term ; Long Term (Minimum of 6 months) ; Medium Term (4 months to 1 year) ; Long Term ; You can write any amount of letters, and there is no commitment required. Life gets busy; if you don't have time to write, return to us when things change.
Interaction Level Solitary - We write with no expectation of receiving a response. Many of the seniors we write to do not have the physical ability or resources to respond to us. ; One-on-one - Students requesting verification of their time for community service hours will be assigned to a liaison who will work one-on-one with them throughout their service by reading each letter and providing feedback. ; Small Group - Volunteer with friends, family, school, employer, or organization. ; Large Group - We have partnered with some larger employers and organizations that offer letter-writing events to their employees and members. ; Virtual Volunteering - We are a virtual organization with no physical location.
Dates and Times Volunteer from home when it’s convenient for you. Choose your own hours and commitment.
Seasons Spring ; Summer ; Fall ; Winter ; Year Round
Accessibility Not Applicable - This is a virtual, self-directed opportunity.
Number of Positions Ajax ; Amherstview ; Ancaster ; Beaverton ; Bowmanville ; Brock ; Brooklin ; Cannington ; Chatham-Kent ; Clarington ; Courtice ; Durham Region ; Greater Toronto Area ; Grimsby ; London ; Maple ; Newmarket ; Oakville ; Orono ; Oshawa ; Pickering ; Port Perry ; Richmond Hill ; Scugog ; Stratford ; Uxbridge (Township of) ; Waterloo ; Whitby ; York Region 
 
200 individual(s) needed in total. 
 
We write to more than a dozen facilities in the Toronto/Greater Horseshoe areas and across Canada. There is no limit to the number of volunteers that can join us. More volunteers means we can reach out to write to more facilities. Tens of thousands of people across the globe have written with us since 2020.
Training We do not provide structured training, but we do offer guidelines, tips, videos and sample letters on our website and social media. Contact Lindsay for support.
Transportation N/A
Cost The only cost to you is the price of stationery, pens and postage. You can also hand-deliver your letter to a nearby facility.
Police Check Not Required
Additional Requirements PLEASE PROVIDE A PERSONAL, PERMANENT EMAIL ADDRESS. SOME STUDENT AND EMPLOYER ACCOUNTS CANNOT ACCEPT EMAILS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES. IF YOU PROVIDE A DDSB EMAIL ACCOUNT, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REACH YOU. 
 
Frequently Asked Questions 
1. What should I write about? - Think of your letter as a friendly conversation. Share personal stories, hobbies, or a favorite memory. Avoid sensitive topics like religion, politics, holidays, health and mobility. Asking a question demonstrates an interest in the reader, gives them something to think about and inspires conversation. We've created this general guide and these lists of notable dates for each month. 
2. Where do I mail my letters? - Choose from current requests in our user portal. We only share the link with registered volunteers. After registering, check your welcome email for portal access instructions. If you can’t find it, check your junk or promotions folder, or email us for assistance. 
3. Can I mail letters to other countries? - Yes! With facilities in four countries, you’re welcome to choose a destination locally or internationally. Just ensure you use the correct postage for international mail. 
4. What if there are no facilities in the location where I want to write? - Our user portal refreshes every two weeks, so check back at the start of the next cycle. If there are no facilities near you, you can also choose a location in another region or country if mailing farther away is an option. 
5. Do you need letters in other languages? - Yes! Use the language filter in our user portal to find destinations that accept letters in any of 30+ different languages. 
6. Can groups or organizations volunteer? How about teachers and educators? - Absolutely! Whether you’re part of a student club, workplace team, community group or classroom, our resources are designed to support group participation. Start here.  
7. Can I earn community service hours for my letters? - Check in with us before you start. Students can earn 15 minutes of service time per approved letter. Register using the student form and share photos of your letters with your assigned Community Service Liaison. 
8. Is there any commitment required to volunteer? - No, there’s no commitment until you pledge letters in the user portal. You’re free to write as many or as few letters as you’d like, whenever it suits your schedule. 
9. What happens if I pledge letters but can’t complete them? - Once you pledge letters in the portal, those letters are reserved specifically for you. It’s important to complete and send them so the seniors receive the connections they’re waiting for. If you’re unsure about your availability, it’s best to wait until you’re ready to write before making a pledge.  
10. How do the facilities handle letters? - Each location handles letters differently. Staff often review them to ensure the content is appropriate, and they may try to match letters with individual readers. Some places post letters on bulletin boards, read them as a group activity, distribute them to individuals at mealtimes or place them in baskets for seniors to pick and share. Letters sent to Meals on Wheels programs are typically shared by a volunteer who doesn’t know the recipient. Specific details or requests from facilities may be noted in the user portal. 
11. Will I receive a reply to my letter? - Most seniors aren’t able to reply, but your letter will still mean the world to them. Treat it as a one-time act of kindness that brings joy and connection. 
12. Can my aged care home, senior center or meals on wheels program receive letters? - Please ask a director or manager to register as a care home.

Agency Details: Letters Against Isolation

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Website www.lettersagainstisolation.com/

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