Project Pen Pal

Join Us in the Fight Against Loneliness Among Seniors

Project Pen Pal is a step that everyone can take
to help reduce loneliness among isolated seniors,
one person at a time.

How does it work?

To participate, simply write a friendly letter or an encouraging message through the form below, and we’ll take care of the rest. Our team of volunteers will print your communication and mail it to one of many seniors who are affected by isolation and loneliness today. It’s one simple step you can take right now to help fight loneliness among seniors.

Send a Project Pen Pal letter

Simply complete the Letter Request Form below to have a letter sent to a senior. Have questions? Check out Project Pen Pal FAQ below.

Have questions about Project Pen Pal?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions below

What should I write about?

Great question! The real answer is that you can write about almost anything that you feel will be friendly or encouraging. Below are a few suggestions to get you started.

Introduce yourself. In what city do you live? What kind of work do or did you do in your career? Consider asking them what kind of work they did.
Do you have any hobbies or interests you’d like to share? Favorite books, TV shows, or movies? Consider asking them if they have any they’d like to share.
Is there a favorite memory you’d like to share? Consider asking them the same thing.
Is there a fun fact you can share that most people don’t know about you?
Do you have any upcoming plans you’d like to share?

Are there any topics I should stay away from in my letter?

Yes, there are a few topics we would suggest you avoid in your letter.

We suggest you don’t share anything too personal or related to financial matters.
Don’t share your social security number, passwords, account numbers, or any other information that could be used inappropriately.
Please refrain from sharing significant problems, bad news, or anything that might cause sadness for the senior receiving your letter.
We recommend that you keep any relationships started through Project Pen Pal as strictly mail-based relationships. We don’t recommend meeting in person.
Please do not include any information that could be interpreted as an offer to buy something or that reflects a financial motive of any kind.
See also the Project Pen Pal Prohibited Content page.

Will I receive a letter back from the senior who receives my letter?

If you’d like to receive a letter back from the senior, it’s recommended that you mention in your letter that you’d welcome a letter back from them.

To receive a letter back, you’ll need to provide your mailing address on our letter form (link). Including your mailing address for a return letter is completely optional. If you chose to include your address, there’s no guarantee that you will receive a letter back. But in many cases, return letters are sent.

Are there any safeguards to ensure the letters received by seniors are appropriate?

Yes, every letter sent through Project Pen Pal is reviewed by our volunteers to ensure the content included is appropriate.

How many letters can I write?

We recommend that you limit the number of letters you choose to write based on your ability to respond with further letters to any of the participating seniors who write back to you.

What if I don't want to use the web form provided here?

If you would rather mail your letter to a participating senior, you can send your letter to the following address:

Stepping Up For Seniors
Attn: Project Pen Pal
21001 N Tatum Blvd
Ste 1630-230
Phoenix, AZ 85050

I have a group that wants to participate. How can we provide several letters at one time?

Group participation is always welcomed. You can send a group of letters by email to penpals@steppingup.io or you can mail the letters to the address provided in the answer to the previous question above.

My child would like to participate. Is there an age requirement?

We request that only individuals aged 18 years or older submit letters to Project Pen Pal. However, children are always welcome to participate in coordination with a parent or guardian aged 18 years or older.

I know a senior who would benefit from this program. How can I submit their name to be a letter recipient?

Yes, we welcome senior participants you know who would benefit from receiving a pen pal letter. Simply use the Letter Request Form above and select option ‘A Senior You Know’ to submit the senior’s information.

Is my personal information safe when I participate in Project Pen Pal?

Yes. Protection of your personal information is a top priority at Stepping Up For Seniors. We do not collect any sensitive information for Project Pen Pal. For the basic information we do collect, you can read more information about how information is used and protected in our Privacy Policy.

How are seniors selected to receive letters?

Stepping Up For Seniors provides assistance to a wide variety of seniors, most of whom are considered low-income seniors. The majority of the seniors chosen to receive Project Pen Pal letters are based on contact made by our volunteer team through the ongoing assistance we provide. However, some of the seniors selected to receive letters come from recommendations made by partner organizations or from other participants in Project Pen Pal.

How can I help to support Project Pen Pal?

There are three ways you can support the efforts of Project Pen Pal.

Participate by writing a letter or message to a senior facing isolation and loneliness.
Provide the name and required information of a senior who could benefit from receiving a Project Pen Pal letter.
As a non-profit organization Stepping Up For Seniors relies on financial support from our generous donors to keep our services going. If you are interested in financially supporting Project Pen Pal, any contribution large or small is greatly appreciated. To donate, simply visit our Donate page.

Thank you for your interest in supporting Project Pen Pal!

Still have questions?

Feel free to contact us at PenPals@SteppingUp.io