Get Started
We’re so glad you’ve decided to join our mission to bring messages of hope and connection to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Getting started is easy. To make it even easier, we’ve put together some guidelines, tips, and examples you can draw on for inspiration.
Letter Writing Guidelines
We read every letter to be sure they meet the following guidelines.
1. Hand-Write Your Letters
Your letter must be hand-written. If unable, please include on each letter a short explanation. (Ex: “This letter is typed because I have difficulty holding a pen.)
2. Three Sentence Minimum
We ask for at least three sentences of hand-written text on each letter. You can include up to five letters with the exact same message. Remember, you’re sending a hand-made gift.
3. Quality over Quantity
Because every letter is a gift, please take your time and write something the recipient will treasure. GLM wants every recipient to feel special. But please do not copy letters from our samples or the Dear Friend gift book.
4. Greeting and Signature
Include a greeting like “Dear Friend” or “Dear Sister.” Your salutation can include just your first name. For children, we love when you also include the age or grade level.
5. Stationery and Envelope
Use any note card, stationery, 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.
6. Please Avoid
GLM letters are distributed regardless of race, religion, age, type of treatment, or cancer stage. For this reason, we ask you to avoid the following content:
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Offensive Language: Along with the really bad words (you know the ones), also banned are hell, cancer sucks, kick cancer's butt, dirty or off-color jokes, and quotes with banned material.
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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.
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Death: It’s difficult for someone newly diagnosed to hear that others 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.”
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Dates & Holiday References: Do not date your letters. This includes reference to holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Christmas. Letters take 6-8 weeks to reach the recipient.
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Politics: GLM does not distribute political material.
7. Mail Letters to:
You can mail your letters in one large envelope to:
Girls Love Mail
193 Blue Ravine Rd., Suite 120
Folsom, CA 95630
Need a little more help? Read a few sample letters
Join Us
Be part of the Girls Love Mail (GLM) community and the Miles of Mail campaign to collect 20,000 letters this year. Together we can make a difference!
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:
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Write From the Heart. No matter how clumsy the words or the neatness of your penmanship, if it comes from the heart you can’t miss.
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Think about someone you care about as you write the letter. You can also share your personal experiences and then relate the idea to the recipient. "I'm sharing this story to help you ...." or "I hope this story makes you smile today."
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Start with your favorite inspirational quote or joke. This is a great way to get something on paper right away and then you can elaborate. Tell why you’re sharing the quote/joke and what it means to you. "This quote reminds me that you are a warrior."
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Tell the truth. It’s okay to say you don’t know what they are going through or that you haven't had cancer. Just let the recipient know that you're thinking of them and wishing them well.
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Get Inspired. Look around your world and see what inspires you. Maybe you have a beautiful garden, a beloved pet, or enjoy the beach. Take a notepad and jot down what warms your spirit so you can share them in your letters.
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Write in groups. Gather up your book club, school class, Girl Scout troop, fraternity (men can write too), bunco circle, corporate philanthropy committee – you name it – and have a GLM Letter Writing Party!
Writing together is helpful, inspiring, and fun, so we put together several downloadable Group Kits to make it easy. 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.
