I have always been close with my great-grandmother, Jeanne. A few years ago, she moved into a senior living community, and every time we visit her, she just lights up: she truly loves being with her family. While visiting Jeanne, I’ve noticed how many people around her don’t get many visits from loved ones. I did some research, and it turns out that loneliness is a serious problem among senior citizens.

When I heard about Love For Our Elders, a nonprofit that works to alleviate social isolation among older adults through handwritten letters, I knew I had to get involved. The way it works is that anybody can nominate an elder who they think would benefit from receiving letters. Every month, the nominees’ addresses are posted on the Love For Our Elders website. People across the world can then read short biographies of these nominees and send them letters of love.  These letters are a huge source of comfort and kindness, especially for people who are not as lucky as my great-grandmother and do not live close to their families.

I started my involvement by creating a chapter of Love For Our Elders at my high school, and it was a great way to connect with my community. Since then, I have worked with my club to send over one hundred letters, and I have even started working more closely with the Love For Our Elder team as a community engagement intern. In my role, I have seen firsthand the positive impact that it has on older adults. People contact us to tell us about the joy and peace that their loved ones experienced while reading their letters, writing about the smile they saw on their mother’s face or the laughs they heard from their grandfather. I especially love when they send us a photo of the recipient next to a huge box full of envelopes.

Honest, it is unbelievable how many letters the nominees receive. Many are sent four or five hundred cards, all of them handwritten and filled with love. It is a true testament to how much good there is in the world.

I feel incredibly grateful to be a part of Love For Our Elders. It is a constant reminder that spreading joy is easier than it seems. So many people assume that they don’t have time to volunteer or give back to their community, but the reality is that putting aside twenty minutes a week to write a kind letter to someone is enough to make a difference. It truly is.