How to find a pen pal

There’s just something so exciting about sifting through the mail and finding a bright-colored envelope among the stack of mundane off-white bills. That’s when you know someone has sent you a greeting card! While you may receive birthday cards once year or congratulations cards on your big milestones, do you ever find yourself craving more? If so, getting a pen pal may be your solution. A pen pal is someone with whom you regularly exchange letters, and that person may be as close as the next town over or as far as all the way across the world. It’s an exciting and thoughtful way to meet someone new or even keep in touch with a long-time friend. Discover all these pen-pal opportunities:

Seniors in a nursing home
Many nursing homes have Secret Santa programs for residents who don’t often have friends or family members come to visit them. Their names get put on a list and are usually sent to a local church, grade school or philanthropic organization. Then, anyone can volunteer to send gifts and Christmas cards to spread some holiday cheer.

Even if it just starts as one holiday gift, your new friend would undoubtedly enjoy getting more letters. Speak with your local retirement center about opportunities to start a pen-pal correspondence with a senior there. This is also a great chance to get your kids involved and show them the power of volunteering and writing.

Letter Writers Alliance
The Letter Writers Alliance is a worldwide, member-based organization. It allows everyone in the alliance to participate in the art of letter writing with a designated pen pal. If you want to write and receive more letters, you can even take on several correspondences at once. Though 89 percent of the members are from the U.S., the LWA has members in Canada, Australia, Wales and England, just to name a few other countries.

Reconnect with old friends
Pen pals don’t have to be strangers. They can also be long-distance friends you don’t get to see very often in person. Whether you’ve lost touch with a cousin or childhood friend, or your own kid is away at college, there are plenty of opportunities to make letter-writing part of your regular routine. Plus, having a pen-pal relationship will give you more things to talk about since a longer amount of time will pass between sending letters than it would for emails or phone calls.

When writing to a new pen pal, pick a greeting card that really captures your personality. With so many designs and colors, you’re sure to find something that fits your style. Additionally, unless you’re sending a letter for a special celebration, opt for a custom greeting card so you can make it work for any occasion.