Letter Writing Guidelines
We read every letter to be sure they meet the following guidelines.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY: Every letter is a gift so please take your time and write something the recipient will treasure and save. GLM doesn’t need a bunch of dashed off quotes or platitudes. We want every recipients to feel special so take a moment to write from the heart. The quality of your letter is important. (Need a little help? Read a few sample letters.)
HAND-WRITE YOUR LETTERS: Your letter must be hand-written. We ask for at least 3 sentences of hand-written text. Just your favorite quote or “You Got This” is NOT enough. You’re doing more than writing a letter, you’re sending a hand-made gift! (If you’re unable to hand write, you must include a sentence about why your letter is typed on EVERY letter. Example: “This letter is typed because I have difficulty with my hands.”)
AVOID DEATH, BAD LANGUAGE & RELIGION: We help regardless of race, religion, age, type of treatment, or cancer stage. For this reason, we’re unable to hand out letters that are not universally appropriate.
Death: It’s difficult for someone newly diagnosed to hear about others who have died from cancer or other diseases. Mention your loved one without sharing the outcome. For example, “My grandmother fought breast cancer and she liked to wear different wigs daily.”
Language: We don’t want to offend anyone. So, along with the really bad words (you know the ones), the following are also banned:
– Hell (ex: Breast Cancer is hell.)
– Cancer Sucks
– Kick Cancer’s Butt
– Dirty or off-color jokes
– Quotes with banned words
Religion: Refrain from religious references and other non-inclusive wording such as; quoting scriptures, telling how/who to worship, or other religious overtures. This also applies to pre-printed cards. We allow “I’m praying for you” once in your letter.
Greeting and Signature: Include a greeting like “Dear Friend” or “Dear Sister.” It’s a letter. Sign your first name & last initial only (Gina M.). For children, do not include last names but do include the age or grade level.
No Date: This includes references to holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Christmas. Letters take 6-8 weeks to reach the recipient.
Stationery & Envelopes: Use any note card, stationery, postcard, or standard paper of your choosing that fits or folds into our special GLM Envelope 4.75” x 6.5” (announcement size). Because we use our own envelopes, you can keep the envelopes that come with your stationery.
You can also download our free custom Girls Love Mail stationery. Download File.
Copying Letters: You can include 5 each of your exact same letter. But please do NOT copy letters from our samples or the DEAR FRIEND book.
No Politics: GLM does not distribute political material.
FAQs
What if I’m unable to hand-write? If you’re unable to hand-write, please include text why the letter is typed in EVERY letter. (Ex: This letter is typed because I have arthritis.) Our GLM envelope reads “the enclosed hand-written letter ” so we need your explanation.
Can I write letters even if I haven’t had cancer? Yes. Anyone with a story to share or desire to encourage a woman can write a letter. You don’t have to be a breast cancer survivor to write a letter.
Where do I mail the letters? Can I mail multiple letters in one envelope? Yes, you can definitely send as many letters in one package as you’d like. We don’t need the original envelopes that may have come with your stationery since we place every letter in a special GLM envelope. Mail your letters to: Girls Love Mail, 193 Blue Ravine Rd., Suite 120, Folsom, CA 95630.
Writing Tips
At first, letter writing might seem a little daunting. But fear not. You can do it! Here’s a few tips we’ve learned after years of writing and reading letters.
Write From the Heart: No matter how clumsy the words, if it comes from the heart you can’t miss.
Think about someone you care about as you write the letter. You can also share your personal experiences.
Start with your favorite inspirational quote or joke. This is a great way to get something on paper right away and then elaborate. Tell why you’re sharing the quote/joke and what it means to you.
Tell the truth. It’s okay to say you don’t know what they are going through.
Write in groups. Gather up your book club, school class, Girl Scout troop, fraternity (men can write too), bunco circle – you name it – and have a GLM Letter Writing Party! Writing together is helpful and fun, so we put together several downloadable Party Kits to make it easy.
PARTY KITS: Each kit contains everything you need to get your group laughing, crying, writing and having a great party. And the kits are tailored to women’s groups, Girl Scout Troops, and school projects for all ages. Group Info.