top of page

HOW TO WRITE A LETTER OF HOPE

Write A Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Starting in April 2020 we began collecting Letters of Hope in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These Letters of Hope can be words of connection, encouragement, support, or gratitude to those facing extreme hardship, grief, stress, and/or anxiety during this time.

Write to someone in your community, a neighbor, an essential worker, or a loved one that you think could use a Letter of Hope. Or write about your own experience during COVID-19 and how you got through it. 

​

  • Grab a blank piece of 8.5in. x 11in. paper

  • Use a permanent marker

  • Be sure to address your letter to the person or group of people you are writing to (please do not include any names)

  • Write your letter on one side of the paper, it doesn't have to take up the whole page. If you cannot write, have a friend write it for you or type it out.

  • Please do not share your name.

  • Be authentic, strive to stay away from cliches, & respond directly to the storyteller.

  • Check for spelling and make sure people can read your writing!

  • Find the Big Yellow Mailbox by going to Follow The Yellow Mailbox and drop off your Letter

  • Or you can take a photo of your story or scan it to submit below.

  • By submitting a letter you give Never, Ever Give Up - CLE permission to share, reproduce, and distribute your letter on  various platforms to build community and honor resilience.

IMG_8334.JPG

Write To One of Our Storytellers

Anyone can write a handwritten Letter of Hope in response to a story. Read through the stories and find one you want to respond to. Letters of Hope can be words of connection, encouragement, support, or gratitude. Tell the person why you reacted to the story, tell them their words were inspiring, or send them kind thoughts.

​

  • Grab a blank piece of 8.5in. x 11in. paper

  • Use a permanent marker

  • Be sure to start your letter with the phrase, "To the person that wrote about . . . " 

  • Write your letter on one side of the paper, it doesn't have to take up the whole page. If you cannot write, have a friend write it for you or type it out.

  • Be authentic, strive to stay away from cliches, & respond directly to the storyteller.

  • Please do not share your name.

  • Check for spelling and make sure people can read your writing!

  • Find the Big Yellow Mailbox by going to Follow The Yellow Mailbox and drop off your Letter

  • Or you can take a photo of your story or scan it to submit below.

  • By submitting a letter you give Never, Ever Give Up - CLE permission to share, reproduce, and distribute your letter on  various platforms to build community and honor resilience.

​​

It may be hard to think of the words to say to someone when they share about going through hard times. Often, we are scared to hurt the person even more or say the wrong thing. But it is so important to let a storyteller know they are seen and supported. Sharing words of empathy is a powerful way to build community. Here are some tips on what not to include in your letter:​

​

  • Offer unsolicited advice or tell them what they “should” do

  • Invalidate, minimize, or deny their experience

  • Make them feel weak because they aren’t coping as well as others

  • Tell them they were lucky it wasn’t worse

bottom of page