Letter Writing and Thank You Cards

Cards for Kids are for  kids in foster care who may not receive cards for their birthdays or “just because.” Throughout the year, cards are sent for birthdays (for kids ages 6-18) and for encouragement (for kids and staff/social workers). Come make a card today!

Senior Smiles is a letter writing activity for seniors in group living arrangements. Due to COVID-19 many of these seniors are without outside contact and are lonely. Getting mail is a highlight for them. 

You just need a piece of paper to write on and an envelope. If you don't have envelopes, TRIO STEM has those for you. When finished you can bring your letters to 200 Lubbers Students Services Center (200 STU) and drop off the letters. We will mail these. 

Here are the handouts for this event. Letter Writing and Senior Smiles Addresses

Critical Care is a thank you card campaign for essential workers. As many of our TRIO STEM students prepare for entering the health care and similar careers, one day you may be putting your life on the line as these persons have. This s a way to "pay it forward" now.  You can do this in the form of a letter or by making a thank you card. 

Here is more information for you. 

Art & Positivity

Hospice of West Michigan is in need of art to decorate patient's rooms. If you are creative this is a great volunteer opportunity to share your talents. 

The Children's Advocacy Center is in need of positivity pebbles. DIY Kindness Rocks help spread hope and cheer to children in court. Help kids as they go through these hard times by writing encouraging messages. They will be able to hold them in court and it will remind them that someone cares.

To see samples of the Positivity Pebbles 

Either of these items if done at home can be dropped off at 200 Lubbers Student Services Center in the marked boxes. 

Looking For More Artsy Opportunities?

There are plenty of opportunities to use your artistic abilities.  Checkout out some other ways to use your skills.  

Kids’ Food Basket provides children living in/near the poverty level with important evening meals. Come decorate a bag!

No Sew Winter Hats for Kids provide handmade hats for kids in need. Some kids are without warm clothes and hats in the winter. We can change that. Make a hat for a child in need!

Animal Shelter Toys are made out of old t-shirts and they will go to dogs who are currently in shelters. Make toys for animals!

STEM Coding Kits are for children ages 5-8. These kits will help them learn the alphabet and practice their spelling.

Volunteer Research

Two areas that are great resume builders are research and volunteering. Why not do these together? The two websites below have many opportunities for you to do voluntary research on your own time. You can select the field or topic then select the project you want to work on. 

Zooniverse at https://www.zooniverse.org/

Catchafire at https://www.catchafire.org/

Community Service Learning Center

Did you know there is a database to search for service learning opportunities?

Did you know there is a Service Tracker that will keep a list of all your volunteer activities indefinitely? No more lost hours or wondering where you put them. 

Both of these can be accessed at the Community Service Learning Center  https://www.gvsu.edu/service/ website. They are now referring you to Laker Links - more directions will follow. 

Resources for At Home

Here are 10 Simple Ways for Students to Connect Support and Volunteer

Use Volunteer Websites

• Check out use idealist.org or volunteermatch.org to seek other local options
• Look into the volunteer National Medical Reserves Corps  https://mrc.hhs.gov/volunteerfldr/AboutVolunteering branch near you
• Paper-airplanes.org invites volunteers to provide online tutoring to “bridge gaps in language, higher education, and professional skills training for conflict-affected individuals”
• Dosomething.org’s nine places to volunteer online and make a real impact

If you’ve received crisis hotline training, check to see if your community’s crisis hotline could use additional phone or chat volunteers. (Requires 30 hours of training)

Virtual Volunteer Opportunities

The Letter Project (Send with Love):This website provides volunteers the opportunity to send young girls around the world empowering Letters. https://www.toloveourselves.com/

United Nations Volunteer: UNV connects you with organizations working for peace and development in need of skills like research, writing, art, and design. There are already over 12,000 volunteers from 187 countries lending their talents to organizations around the globe. Home | UNV Online Volunteering service

Translators without Borders: For those fluent in more than one language, check out this nonprofit that combines language skills with humanitarian aid. Volunteers provide translations (10 million words a year!) to international organizations that focus on crisis relief, health and education. Volunteer as a translator for Translators without Borders

Save the Children: Virtual letter writing:  Volunteers can to come together for a meaningful team-building opportunity to virtually write letters for children in need of encouragement and support around the globe. Save the Children will provide assets, including a virtual letter writing toolkit, letter writing templates and other assets. Letter Writing | Save the Children