Dear Juvie,
Get Involved
Fill out the Google Form on the right to start volunteering right away or scroll down to see instructions. Anyone from ages 13 and up may volunteer to receive community service hours!
(Click on the Google Form image to access the link)
Scroll down to see detailed instructions and community service hour conversions.
For the underrepresented, underresourced, and underserved ✍️
Letter Guidelines
1) Address the letter to someone anonymous:
- Examples: Dear Friend, Hey dude, What's up
2) DO NOT include any sensitive personal info (address, full name, school, contact info, etc.)
3) Sign the letter with only your first name or an anonymous codename
- Examples: Love, Sam or Sending prayers, a teen from Texas
4) You may put multiple letters on one Doc and submit them altogether or submit them separately.
5) Photographs must be photos you've taken and cannot show yourself, others, or any private info (photos of nature, things, pets, etc. are allowed).
6) Messages must be positive and uplifting only. Condescending, inappropriate, or offensive language is not permitted.
7) Avoid mentioning religion, politics, or sensitive topics
Click HERE to see an example letter.
Letter Writing Prompts
Look below for letter writing ideas. Be relatable, friendly! This is not an English assignment - get creative!
Many teens in juvenile detention centers are lonely and separated from their normal lives. They could be feeling scared, homesick, depressed, etc. Write a couple sentences encouraging or understanding these teens - as if you're talking to a close friend.
Detained youth may be cut off from their normal social lives and the media. Write a couple sentences updating teens on new trends, news, pop culture, drama, new song releases, etc.
Many teens in these facilities may feel misunderstood or demoralized about the future. Write a couple sentences explaining a time when you struggled with mental health, made a mistake and got in trouble, or any other low point in your life and why it's worth it to keep pushing forward.
Detained youth may be struggling with mental health, low self-esteem, and/or self image. Write a couple sentences reminding them of their worth - that they're worth more than what they've done or what's happened to them. Tell them they are valued, seen, and loved by the community.
Many youths in detainment are unsure of what the future could hold for them. Write a couple sentences encouraging them to keep pursuing their education, jobs, and life!
Step-by-step Instructions
Open a Google Doc or Word Document
1
Open a Google Doc or Word Document
Make sure to read our letter writing guidelines and check our writing prompts (scroll below)!
2
Type your letter onto the Document (you may put multiple letters in one Doc or separately).
3
If able, take a fun/related photo and upload it to your Document for extra service hours! (optional)
4
Check our service hour conversion chart below to calculate how many hours you should receive from your submission. (this number will be fact-checked)
5
Download your Document as a PDF and upload it to the Google Form above (click the image above to access the link).