Volunteer Opportunities

Greeting cards with yellow smiley face designs and the words 'Sending Smiles' next to a bunch of white daisies with orange centers and green leaves.

Since 2020, our card drives have brought joy to senior citizens through handmade cards with meaningful, handwritten messages. We collect themed cards for every season, including Valentine’s Day, spring/Easter, summer, fall, and winter holidays—sending a “distant hug” to the elderly year-round. Read below for more info on our current card drive.

Seasonal Card Drive

  • Seasonal Project:

    Create SUMMER cards for senior citizens living in assisted living homes! Drop off or mail cards by July 31st (address provided in the Google form)

  • Requirements:

    • create at least 4 cards

    • each card must be handmade

    • no printer paper (cardstock highly recommended)

    • each card includes a message with at least 4 sentences and signed with your name and grade 

    • cards include color, drawings, jokes, etc.

  • How to earn service hours:

    • 1 card = 20 minutes

    • Please follow all requirements and fill out the Google form in order to earn hours

    • We will send out an email within the next 30 days to verify your hours

    • If you do not submit the form, we cannot confirm your hours

We recently launched the Card-Making Kit Drive initiative to brighten hospital patients’ days by providing craft supplies and encouraging creativity through card-making. We collect card-making kit donations and deliver them to patients at the Seattle Children's Hospital.

Card-Making Kit Drive

  • Year-Round Project:

    Create card-making kits for patients at the Seattle Children's hospital! (Drop off/mailing address & details on how to proceed are provided in card kit form) 

  • Requirements:

    • paper (cardstock highly recommended)

    • multiple coloring and writing supplies (pens, markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc.)

    • no used or old supplies

    • extra: stickers, washi tape, stamps, etc.

    • 1 kit = 25 minutes

    • Please follow all requirements and fill out our card kit form in order to earn hours

    • We will send out an email shortly after to verify your hours

A child's hands drawing on orange paper with pink crayon surrounded by craft supplies including scissors, glue, colored pencils, and construction paper on a wooden table.

We have partnered with Heritage Bridges to build a pen pal program connecting students across the U.S. with elderly immigrants through letters and postcards. This is an opportunity for students to build meaningful relationships, foster belonging, and gain insight into diverse life experiences—all while earning volunteer hours!

Pen Pal Program

  • This program fosters intergenerational connection, cross-cultural appreciation, and emotional support through handwritten letters and postcards. Every letter you send counts as 2 hours of community service!

    Student volunteers will be paired with elderly immigrants participating in Heritage Bridges' newcomer English class. Each elder will be introduced to their pen pal with a brief profile (photo of the individual and a few fun facts) to create a sense of familiarity.

    Elders will send a handwritten postcard or letter to their assigned student pen pal, with prompts provided to help spark conversation (e.g. cultural traditions, memories, hobbies). Heritage Bridges handles mailing the elder’s letter to the student. Students will then mail their handwritten response back to Heritage Bridges.

    Postcard exchanges will occur every few months based on student availability, and pairs are welcome to continue writing beyond the program if they wish.

  • Heritage Bridges is a Boston-based nonprofit that empowers elderly AAPI immigrants through free online and in-person programs. We've reached over 1,000 elders through English classes, calligraphy, and cultural events.

    Our pen pals are elderly immigrants from places like Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Singapore. They've studied English for 3+ years and are excited to share their stories, traditions, and hobbies—while learning more about American culture in return.

  • 1) Fill out the google form to get matched with an elderly pen pal!

    2) Once matched, you will receive an email from Distant Hugs with info on your pen pal.

    3) Wait for a letter from your pen pal. Once you receive their letter, you can write back! 1 letter = Earn 2 hours of community service!

Group of elderly immigrants sitting in a classroom, waving at the camera during a postcard exchange program, with some participants smiling and raising their hands.