HOPE IN ACTION
Are you looking for a meaningful way to bring people together and make a positive impact? Hosting a writing meet-up is a great way to connect with friends, family, coworkers, or your local community while spreading kindness and support through heartfelt letters.
A writing meetup is a gathering where individuals come together to create handwritten letters of hope, encouragement, and emotional support for people facing loneliness and isolation. These letters are often directed to those who are unable to live at home and may not have regular contact with friends or family, such as foster children, seniors in care facilities, military families, etc.
Meetups also foster a sense of community among participants. Whether it’s a small group of friends, a workplace event, or a larger community gathering, writing meetups provide an opportunity to share kindness and compassion.
Hosting a writing meetup is an easy and meaningful way to bring people together for a great cause. Every letter written during these meetups goes into our Bundles of Hope, reaching, foster children, nursing homes, and other organizations that serve people who are at risk of loneliness and isolation due to being displaced from their homes.
These meetups are also a chance for people to slow down, reflect, and connect on a deeper level. Whether it’s a casual gathering of friends or a larger community event, hosting a writing meetup lets you and your group do something impactful for those feeling alone or going through a tough time.
- Choose a Date and Location: Select a time and place that works best for your group—whether at home, a community center, school, or even outdoors.
- Register Your Meetup: The organizer will register the event on the SHN website. You will receive an email confirmation and digital resources to help your attendees with letter writing.
- Invite Your Group: Invite friends, family, coworkers, or any group you belong to. Whether it’s a workplace event, community gathering, or family meet-up, everyone can take part in this meaningful activity.
- Bring Your Supplies: Participants should bring their own writing materials and postage. This can include paper, envelopes, glitter pens, markers, stickers, washi tape, etc., and of course a stamp!
- Write Letters: During the meetup, everyone will write letters to be distributed through our Bundles of Hope outreach program.
- Send Letters to SHN: After your event, simply put all of the letters in a large envelope and mail them to us! We will take it from there!
If you have additional questions please email us! sayhisname@dylanholley.org
Letters are distributed in bundles of 25 through organizations such as nursing homes, foster care agencies, homeless shelters, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities. These anonymous letters are designed to provide comfort and encouragement to people who may be experiencing loneliness, isolation, or difficult life transitions.
Writing meetups can be held anywhere in the U.S., giving you the flexibility to organize an event that fits your group’s needs. It’s important to note that our organization does not host, organize, or plan these meetups.
When you register a writing meetup, we supply the letter requests and grant access to our meetup portal, which includes helpful guidelines and other digital resources to guide you through the process. You are in charge of planning and hosting the event, while we support you with the digital resources you need.