Last year, during National Letter Writing Month, I ran across More Love Letters, whose mission is to spread love to those who need it. I'm excited to be participating in their 12 Days of Love Letters this holiday season. Each day for 12 days, they will reveal a new request for letters, so you can send some handwritten love during a season when many people need it. It began on December 4, but I'm especially drawn to today's recipients.
Today's request is for a school of adolescent boys, who are at-risk because they are dealing with trauma and abuse, as well as mental health disorders. The administrators at their therapeutic school asked for letters of encouragement and motivation for this over-looked group, so that they can feel more connected in the world. Maybe it is just because of my own sons, or because I'm so protective of the next generation in general, but this request really stood out to me. I'm writing a couple cards today to these young men, and hope that they can feel good vibes from it. (Look below for full request and address.)
The holiday season is a time when we often remember to give back (though ideally we'd do this year round!) and also ramp up written correspondence in general (holiday cards!), so I really appreciate that More Love Letters united these two. Something about holidays makes hand written correspondence even more special. Please visit 12 Days of Love Letters and send a letter (or 12!) yourself. (All letters should be postmarked by December 20.)
Found some cheery cards in my stash.
And made some others!
More Love Letters received a request for a bundle of letters for students at a school. One of their behavioral specialists wrote to us:
“REAL school serves middle school students who require structured therapeutic school-based supports and are at-risk in the areas of academic achievement as well as emotional and behavioral development. Most are dealing with challenges at home and in the community–trauma, abuse, violence–as well as mental health disorders. They and their families oftentimes lack access to effective resources and lack exposure to people outside of their communities, city, and the world around them. Research shows that these types of disconnections lead to ongoing struggles: incarceration, homelessness, a lower lifetime earning potential, chronic difficulty getting and keeping a job, living in extreme poverty, lack of health insurance, substance abuse, and chronic depression.
Our students (we currently have six boys in the program, ages 12-14) are resilient, vibrant, creative, outspoken, musical, funny, caring, curious, resourceful, athletic, and often, overlooked. They love to rap, dance, play sports, do arts and crafts, and learn about others. They deserve to feel appreciated and supported. They deserve unconditional positive regard. And, most of all, they deserve to feel connected with others.
I'd love to share letters of encouragement and motivation, of overcoming tough times, and of different life experiences (cultures, cities, people) with our students as well as our amazing REAL School staff members.”
Grab your pens and join us in writing letters to these fantastic students this holiday season! Please address all letters to “Dear Students.”
PLEASE MAIL ALL LOVE LETTERS BY DECEMBER 20 TO:
Students of REAL School
℅ Elizabeth L.
12 S. Stafford Avenue Apt. A,
Richmond, VA 23220
If you have questions about the process, visit the More Love Letter FAQ.
