Welcome to the Tree House: guides, tools and ideas.
A place to gather practical tools, thoughtful guidance, stories and ideas for turning kindness into safe, meaningful connection. Start with the section that sounds most like you.
Free printables: letters, decorated paper & envelope guide
Print a ready-made Veterans Day letter to sign or personalize, decorated writing paper, or a large-print sheet residents can write on. Plus a picture guide to addressing the envelope.
Open printables · How to address an envelope · Veterans Day: learn & activities · Remembrance Day (UK, Canada, Australia)Why volunteering matters
Maybe you want to serve. Maybe your school requires service hours. Maybe your employer, church or organization encouraged you to volunteer. That's okay. You still showed up and gave your time. Sometimes what begins as an assignment becomes a relationship you never expected.
Take the skills you already have. Nothing is too small, and your idea does not have to fit a category Pen Pal Tree already created.
Free volunteer orientation
Everything a new volunteer needs to know — first visits, communicating with older adults, what not to do and what to watch for — plus a section for Activity Directors running a volunteer program.
Read the orientationHow to contact a community
Call the main number and ask who coordinates activities, life enrichment, recreation, engagement, or volunteer programs. Titles vary by organization.
“Hi, my name is ____. I found your community through Pen Pal Tree, and I'd love to volunteer or connect with older adults there. Could I speak with the person who coordinates activities, life enrichment, recreation, or volunteer programs?”
Email or letter starter
“Hello, my name is ____. I/we would love to connect with your community by ____. We are available ____. Would this be something the people in your community would welcome, and what requirements should we complete before participating?”
Include your group size and ages when relevant. Never promise a visit or ongoing relationship you cannot maintain.
Consistency matters more than frequency.
For many older adults, a volunteer who comes once a month for a year can mean more than one who comes weekly and then disappears. Offer only what you can keep up. If you need to stop, tell the community so they can let the people expecting you know. Please don't just stop showing up.
Starting as a solo volunteerOpen guide
- Start with what you genuinely enjoy: conversation, music, reading, technology, games, gardening, letters or another skill.
- Browse Active Connections or contact a community and ask what would actually be useful.
- Be specific about availability. A reliable monthly hour can be more valuable than an ambitious promise you cannot maintain.
- Complete the community's required orientation, screening or check-in process before participating.
- After the first visit, decide together whether this should be one-time or ongoing.
Your first visit: what to expectOpen guide
- Check in at the front desk and follow the community's sign-in process. Wear a name tag if they offer one.
- Let staff introduce you. They know which older adults or program participants may enjoy a visitor and how best to approach each person.
- Introduce yourself every time. Avoid asking ‘Do you remember me?’—simply introduce yourself again.
- Sit at eye level, speak clearly, reduce background noise and give the person time to respond.
- Follow their lead. Conversation, listening, singing or simply sitting together can all be meaningful.
- Keep a first visit manageable. Twenty to thirty minutes may be plenty.
- Say goodbye warmly. If someone becomes tired, upset or asks you to leave, respect that and let staff know.
- If something concerns you, tell staff rather than trying to handle a health or safety concern yourself.
- Never take photos or post about older adults or program participants without the community's permission and required consent.
Writing instead of visiting?
Use our practical guide for letters, large-print writing, dementia-friendly questions, group projects and what to avoid.
How to write to an older adultNeed supplies for letters or a group project?
Browse optional writing, card-making, accessible-writing and mailing supplies. No specific product is required to participate in Pen Pal Tree.
Recommended supplies