As co-president of the Letters of Love chapter at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, junior Montana Livingston is helping Huskers send their love to kids worldwide who need it most.
“Letters of Love is a global nonprofit started in Minnesota by a girl who lost her mother to cancer,” Livingston said. “Her mother would always write her letters, so she decided to start her own foundation where she writes letters to sick children all over the world to offer them love and support.”
Livingston, who became familiar with the organization as a high school student, decided it was time to bring Letters of Love to the university and encourage Huskers to use the small act of letter writing to make a big impact.
As it turned out, she was not the only one with this idea.
“My co-presidents Macie Sides, Marissa McDonald and I coincidentally all reached out (to Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement) at the same time to ask about starting Letters of Love, so they asked if we just wanted to work together,” Livingston said. “We didn’t even know each other at the time, but I’m so grateful we met through this.”
Anyone can show up to a Letters of Love meeting to create a card, Livingston said. In her view, it’s a low-stakes way to brighten someone’s day and even help clear your own head.
“It’s super low commitment — you can come and relax after a long day, make a card, and know that you’re doing something small that will be so big for someone who is fighting through a really hard time.”
Livingston stressed that any level of creativity and craftiness is welcome.
“The letters are anonymous for both the writers and recipients; you can make it as personal as you want, or we have templates and examples to go off of,” Livingston said. “After they’re done, they’re given over to us and sent all over the world.”
For Livingston, Letters of Love has been a therapeutic way of decompressing and reflecting on the bigger picture.
“Even on bad days, I can literally just sit in my room, write a card and start to feel better,” Livingston said. “It sounds so silly because it's so simple, but it’s so meaningful to someone out there.”
For membership and meeting information, follow Letters of Love on Instagram.
