Greg & Stacey

Brief History
In mid January 2011, my wife and I got an idea to attempt to assist folks cornered with limited resources apart from families to reconnect in a real way with loved ones by the upcoming Valentine’s Day.
We informed family and friends of our desire and requested letter materials, clip boards, and a battery powered camping lantern. In the last weekend in January before church at first light, we launched with an old camping table, two lawn chairs, and our donated letter materials in a $5.00 plastic tub and hit the street.
One of the first folks who clarified that we weren’t just serving coffee said, “Wow!” stepped back from the table, drew a breath, and stated that, ” What you are doing almost brings tears to my eyes.”
“Because prior to getting my addiction under control, I had been out of contact with my family back home in N.Y. for a period of ten years.”
He said, “I had forced my family for that ten year period to search websites posting faces of John Does found in the city.”
At that point, we changed our goal of a few Valentine’s cards back home, to four weeks of letters out. During that four week period, we thought what if we help other folks launch projects in their own communities of Free Letters Home. We felt we could seed this idea by having a rubber stamp made directing receipts of cards and letters to a website with helpful tips and information.

12 thoughts on “Greg & Stacey

  1. My daughter and I are preparing to join all the Agencies to Help the Homeless in Dothan, AL, this Saturday. It will be the first time we set up our table and “get our feet wet” with our Free Letters Home project. We are looking forward to meeting the volunteers associated with other projects, and since it is a big gathering of the homeless population and the various agencies, we will get good exposure right from the start. Just a thought………..perhaps there should be a “list” of all the people who do Free Letters Home as it seems to be growing rapidly. Just a thought. Thanks for all your help and advice. Mary

  2. Greg & Stacey – I read about you in this month’s Guideposts and would like to donate a big box of cards that I have to you. How would I go about doing this?
    Thank you for all you do to help the homeless in your area keep in touch with their loved ones!

    • Laurie,

      That’s great! Thank you so much for your generosity. The cards will help a lot of people attempting to maintain connections with their family. Our shipping address is: 5403 W. Highland Rd., Everett, WA, 98203. ~ Free Letters Home

      • You’re welcome, glad to help! I’ll try to mail them out tomorrow or early next week. I know when I want to get back in touch with someone, it’s intimidating to start from a blank piece of paper. Sometimes the sentiment on the card helps me to figure out what I want to say!

        • That is so true. The people who come up to the table wanting to write a letter usually know what type of card they want (Birthday, Thinking of You, Get Well, etc.), but they do like words already written inside to help get them started in what they want to say.
          During the visit, we offer lined paper to supplement the cards, so that people can have additional space if they want to write more.

  3. This is a great thing you started. I would like to start this as an outreach from my church. I would appreciate any advice you have thanks.
    DIXIE

  4. I’m interested in getting involved with this project! Do you know if a Free Letters Home Project is up and running in the Des Moines, Iowa area? If not please send me info and tips on how to get started. Thanks!

    • Brenda, Wonderful ! The Des Moines area could use you. We can send you all you need to start. If you enjoy doing this outreach we will continue to assist you and keep you in stamps and matterials as you need them. We also have lots of tips. Greg

  5. This is a terrific idea! Am going to do my best to set something like this up in Bakersfield. Any advice you can spare would be appreciated.
    Plz continue your blessed work!

    • Thank you Tori, Tell your friends what you are going to do. Everybody has used use stuff in the back of their desks. I have never had to purchase anything. Take a friend out with you. you should get something out of this too. When a visitor tells you that the letter will make someone cry with happiness when they receive the letter you will feel great about your efforts.

      • Tori, How is it going setting up in Bakersfield? Do you have any questions, or are you needing help with materials?

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