A hand-written note goes a long way when it comes to showing anyone — especially our unhoused neighbors— that you care for them specifically.
We need volunteers to commit to writing notes for us ahead of events— at whatever cadence works best for you. Want to help? Fill out our commitment form so we know how often & how many notes we can count on you for.
Help us write notes.
Thank you for being willing to help us free up time to pour into our volunteers better by writing notes ahead of our events! Below are the guidelines for our notes that we follow.
1. Handwrite the notes.
You know the feeling you get when someone writes something by hand for you? That warm feeling is pretty universal. Hand-writing the notes that go with every kit we hand out is a super subtle but hugely impactful way to show that another human being took the time to think about that specific neighbor and pour some encouragement into their life. It’s the only tangible message we leave with them once our conversation is over, so this really matters!
2. Use clear handwriting on a 3x5” index card.**
If you don’t have that exact kind of paper, that’s ok! Index cards are just super easy to find and fit well into the sandwich-sized bags that we deliver the notes in alongside the utensils and napkin for their meal.
**We have index cards & pre-stamped envelopes available at all our outreach events for you to pick up! Exact number available to you will be based on what cadence & number of notes you commit to in this form.
3. Be brief but intentional.
Notes are typically 2-3 sentences and signed with your name. We want this to be as personal as we can. Think about what kind of note would best make you feel seen & loved if you were in their situation!
4. Put yourself in their shoes.
We always want to be encouraging and share the hope that a life lived alongside Jesus brings, but we don’t want to gloss over the harsh realities of their current situation. They usually do appreciate feeling seen in their situation without a sort of blind optimism that says things like “life is hard but God has a plan!” We try to avoid anything cliche like “Jesus loves you!” or “keep your head up!” Though we know we mean it genuinely, the sentiment can often get lost and actually make our unhoused neighbors feel less understood.
5. Let God do the talking.
If you have a verse on your heart that you think would mean a lot to them, please write it out for them to have! The Bible is the living and active word of God, so the more truth we can leave with them, the better.
Here’s an example of a note we’ve delivered in the past to help you get started:
