Penpal Resources
Where to Find Penpals:
The Letter Writers Alliance is what got me started into the wonderful world of pen-palling. Kathy and Donovan do an exquisite job pairing penpals together, hosting a fabulous book club and, encouraging more people to start writing letters. Membership is 5 dollars and you will receive a marvelous membership card, a patch and an unlimited supply of penpals.
While many people predicted that social media would be the downfall of letter writing it has actually become an exquisite tool for finding penpals. I will forever remember the joy when I found out that you can find penpals on Instagram. In the search bar simply search the hashtag #penpalswanted, #penpalsneeded, or #penpals. Simply (graciously) ask people if they are interested in becoming penpals and viola you have entered the wonderful world of letter writing. There are many groups on facebook that also boast penpal matching services as well as Tumblr, Reddit, and Twitter.
If you are looking to dip your toe into the world of snail mail Postcrossing offers a postcard exchange, which is a low commitment but is guaranteed to fill your mailbox with a plethora of postcards. You will be randomly assigned to send a postcard to another member, once that member receives the postcard you sent another randomly chosen person will be chosen to send you a postcard. It is a highly addictive activity! If you are looking for a more social aspect of letter writing, Postcrossing members organize meetups to write postcards together.
Letter writing can be a very solitary activity but there are many gatherings that you may attend to surround yourself with like-minded letter obsessed people. There are many different letter-writing societies/guilds/clubs that meet up to write letters together. Here is an incredible resource that allows you to see different letter-writing societies across the world: https://lwsdirectory.com/
If you are a craftaholic be sure to check out Swap Bot. This is a service that allows you to join different crafty swaps to be sent in the mail. While I have never personally participated in a swap many of my penpals have had amazing experiences through this website.
Ask family and friends if they would be interested in writing letters with you. I first got into snail mail by writing letters to my camp friends who lived out of state. I instantly became addicted to the thrill of sending and receiving mail. I then started writing letters to my local friends and then I branched out to sending letters to relatives out of state. I find that letter writing is a much easier way to stay in touch with out of state friends. Letters allow you to have a written conversation. In our digital world taking the time to unplug and spend time on thoughtful communication is guaranteed to help create and preserve friendships that will last a lifetime.
Operation Gratitude is an amazing program that allows you to send care packages, letters, and cards to active duty US troops, first responders, veterans, recruit graduates, military families, and wounded heroes and their caregivers. This is a great way to send your support and thanks to those who have bravely served. In highschool, we had a club that sent holiday cards to active duty US troops. While this is a US-based organization there are many opportunities in other countries to send thanks to those who serve.
The Letter Writers Alliance is what got me started into the wonderful world of pen-palling. Kathy and Donovan do an exquisite job pairing penpals together, hosting a fabulous book club and, encouraging more people to start writing letters. Membership is 5 dollars and you will receive a marvelous membership card, a patch and an unlimited supply of penpals.
While many people predicted that social media would be the downfall of letter writing it has actually become an exquisite tool for finding penpals. I will forever remember the joy when I found out that you can find penpals on Instagram. In the search bar simply search the hashtag #penpalswanted, #penpalsneeded, or #penpals. Simply (graciously) ask people if they are interested in becoming penpals and viola you have entered the wonderful world of letter writing. There are many groups on facebook that also boast penpal matching services as well as Tumblr, Reddit, and Twitter.
If you are looking to dip your toe into the world of snail mail Postcrossing offers a postcard exchange, which is a low commitment but is guaranteed to fill your mailbox with a plethora of postcards. You will be randomly assigned to send a postcard to another member, once that member receives the postcard you sent another randomly chosen person will be chosen to send you a postcard. It is a highly addictive activity! If you are looking for a more social aspect of letter writing, Postcrossing members organize meetups to write postcards together.
Letter writing can be a very solitary activity but there are many gatherings that you may attend to surround yourself with like-minded letter obsessed people. There are many different letter-writing societies/guilds/clubs that meet up to write letters together. Here is an incredible resource that allows you to see different letter-writing societies across the world: https://lwsdirectory.com/
If you are a craftaholic be sure to check out Swap Bot. This is a service that allows you to join different crafty swaps to be sent in the mail. While I have never personally participated in a swap many of my penpals have had amazing experiences through this website.
Ask family and friends if they would be interested in writing letters with you. I first got into snail mail by writing letters to my camp friends who lived out of state. I instantly became addicted to the thrill of sending and receiving mail. I then started writing letters to my local friends and then I branched out to sending letters to relatives out of state. I find that letter writing is a much easier way to stay in touch with out of state friends. Letters allow you to have a written conversation. In our digital world taking the time to unplug and spend time on thoughtful communication is guaranteed to help create and preserve friendships that will last a lifetime.
Operation Gratitude is an amazing program that allows you to send care packages, letters, and cards to active duty US troops, first responders, veterans, recruit graduates, military families, and wounded heroes and their caregivers. This is a great way to send your support and thanks to those who have bravely served. In highschool, we had a club that sent holiday cards to active duty US troops. While this is a US-based organization there are many opportunities in other countries to send thanks to those who serve.
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