before you begin
Ready to brighten someone's day? Here's everything you need to know: guidelines for making great cards and letters, answers to common questions, tips to make your contribution count, and examples of cards!
Remember to sign up through our form when you're ready to volunteer!
cards & letters
Writing a card or letter is the most popular way to volunteer. Follow these guidelines to make sure your cards can reach the people who need them.
Share something about yourself – interests, a hobby, something that made you smile recently.
Include a joke, riddle, puzzle, encouraging quote, or short poem.
Describe your favorite season, holiday memory, or something beautiful near you today.
Simply say: “I’m thinking of you, and I hope this card makes you smile.”
✓ Start with “Dear Friend,” “Hello,” or another generic greeting, as facilities can’t share recipients’ names due to HIPAA privacy laws.
✓ Write legibly, preferably in large print.
✓ Keep messages uplifting, warm, and cheerful.
✓ Feel free to repeat designs because each card goes to a different resident.
✓ Sign individual cards with your first name only.
✓ Mail all cards in one outer envelope. Write your name, Brighten A Day, and your return address on the outside.
✓ Mail holiday cards at least 2 weeks before the date.
✓ Cards in other languages are always welcome.
✗ Avoid phrases like “Stay strong,” “Hang in there,” or “I know you’re lonely.”
✗ Don’t mention sickness or health, i.e. no “get well soon.”
✗ Don’t include the date, month, or year on the card itself.
✗ Don’t include your address, phone number, or email on the card.
✗ Don’t ask recipients for information, as these are one-way messages.
✗ Don’t seal individual inner envelopes because facilities need to screen cards.
✗ Don’t reference the pandemic, difficult times, or negative situations.
service hours
We provide signed verification letters for students, NHS, honor societies, and other programs. Read the requirements below before you start if you need hours verified.
We'll send you the required submission form.
Complete it before mailing your cards.
We use this to confirm delivery and verify your hours.
Cards must be at least 4.25" × 5.5", i.e. the size of a folded 8.5"×11" sheet.
Letters must be handwritten. At this time we cannot verify hours for court-ordered community service.
faq
Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Young children should participate with an adult's help.
Please fill out our volunteer form before mailing. We'll reply within 48 hours with instructions and our mailing address.
As many as you like! There's no minimum or maximum. Each card goes to a different facility.
Use a generic greeting like "Dear Friend" or "Hello". Due to HIPAA regulations, facilities don't share recipients' personal information with us.
Yes! Each card goes to a different recipient.
Not at all. We serve many bilingual seniors and always welcome cards in other languages.
Absolutely. We welcome school clubs, community organizations, and corporate teams. See our Get Involved page for group-specific paths.
Yes! See the Service Hour Verification section above for the full requirements.
Yes. Brighten A Day is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 84-4326777.
Yes , we have no paid employees. Every program is run entirely by volunteers.
examples
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