INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW

Handwritten notes are at the heart of our mission to reduce loneliness among Asian American Elders living in isolation and with food insecurity in under-resourced communities. Through our signature care packages, we create moments of joy, connection, and belonging that honor our Elders' physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

GET INVOLVED AND JOIN OUR

Handwritten Note Project

Why Handwritten Notes Matter

At Heart of Dinner, every handwritten note is a bridge, fostering connection and showing our Elders that they are loved and remembered. Born from our founders' decade-long tradition of exchanging love notes as romantic partners, these personal messages reflect a shared belief that thoughtful gestures can make someone feel truly seen and cared for, even across generations and cultures. Whether your penned note supports our LA wildfire emergency relief or joins our NYC weekly home deliveries, it will find its way to an Elder, uplifting their spirit and emotional well-being. Whether or not you speak the language, your participation makes a meaningful difference. Like our founders, who began by using translation tools, we believe that showing up with your time and heart is an act of love that transcends language and makes people feel seen, connected, and cherished.

Note Writing Guidelines

Please follow the instructions below to adhere to Heart of Dinner's guidelines to make sure that your efforts will bring joy, warmth, and comfort to our beneficiaries. Thank you for your time and effort in making a meaningful difference in our communities!

Do's

Please supply your own materials and supplies. (Scroll below to the next section where we recommend and link to Heart of Dinner approved art materials and supplies.)
Write and decorate on only one side of the handwritten note.
Pen your message in black or dark ink so that it's easy on the eyes for our beneficiaries to read with ease.
Write legibly, clearly, with large characters/letters.
If you're looking for inspiration for different uplifting messages to write to our Elders, scroll to the last section at the bottom of this page. There, you can find messages in the different languages of our Elder beneficiaries. These are perfect for letting them know that they are valued and appreciated year-round.
Decorate illustrations around your message on each note. Use bright, vivid, and uplifting colors to bring warmth and joy. Fill up as much of the blank space with colorful decorations! For examples of notes with decorations, please click here.
Write in batches of 25 notes and use rubber bands or sheets of paper to batch each set.

RECOMMENDED ART MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:

Our Elders often keep these notes close, reading them again and again when they feel alone. The bright colors and legible heartfelt messages become lasting reminders of love and emotional connection. These supplies listed below have proven to create the kind of durable, vibrant, and legible notes we're proud to include in our care packages:

Note Cards & Paper (Choose One):

White Note Cards
1. Size: Unruled 3"x5" click here
2. Perfect for all types of decorations
3. Durable enough to be cherished for years
White Cardstock Cut to Size
1. Size: Between 3"x5" and 4"x6"
2. Pairs beautifully with our decorated bags
3. Creates a cohesive look in our care packages
Mixed Media Paper
1. Ideal for colored pencil illustrations
2. Size: Cut to same size options as above or click here

Writing Tools (For Clear, Easy-to-Read Messages):

Black pens (1.5mm thickness): click here
Tip: Choose pens with smooth ink flow that won't fade
Pro tip: Ergonomic options help if writing many notes!

Decorating Supplies For Bright, Joyful Art:

Crayola Broad Line Markers: click here
- Perfect for bold, cheerful designs that bring smiles
- Creates bright, lasting colors
Dual-tip Acrylic Paint Markers: click here
- Fantastic for vivid details that endure
- Creates vibrant art that lights up lonely moments
Colored Pencils: click here
- Best on mixed media paper
- Perfect for creating gentle, whimsical, and lasting artwork
Wildflower Stencils: click here
- Wonderful for adding delicate floral designs to your notes
- Simple to use - just trace and color for beautiful results (works great with colored pencils or markers)
- See below for a sample handwritten note using the wildflower stencils and colored pencils

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You can find these supplies at local craft stores or through the links above. Remember, while these are our recommendations, any similar supplies that meet the size and quality guidelines will work beautifully! Each handwritten note of yours becomes a reminder that our Elders are seen and loved.

Sample Volunteer Notes That Spread Joy & Brighten Our Elders' Days

DON'Ts:

In order to maintain the personal touch of handwritten notes, we kindly ask that each note is handwritten. We do not accept photocopies.
Businesses, corporations, organizations, and affiliations should not add their brand, logo, or tagline to the notes being attached to Heart of Dinner's care packages. These handwritten notes are not for marketing purposes and should only serve one purpose: to carry out Heart of Dinner's mission to reduce food insecurity, loneliness, and isolation through our care packages. Handwritten notes received with any branding, logos, or taglines will NOT be used.
Do not include political messages or affiliation on your handwritten notes. We appreciate your contributions in making a difference in our communities and bringing smiles to the faces of our Elderly beneficiaries. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
In all language affiliated with Heart of Dinner or our mission, we only allow for inclusive language. We strictly avoid divisive language, refraining from any speech that could be construed as pitting one community of color against another. Our focus remains steadfast on cultivating a multicultural community, diverse and inclusive, dedicated to highlighting the systemic challenges faced by Asian American older adults through an ethos of care, love, and unity.

Our Current Programs & Language Needs

For NYC Weekly Home Deliveries:

Every week, we deliver 700 care packages to Elders, each one requiring a handwritten note
Important Update for 2025: We deeply appreciate your Traditional Chinese notes - they are especially needed as we continue our weekly deliveries throughout 2025. While we're currently well-stocked in various other languages, the need for notes is ongoing as we serve our beloved Elders week after week.
Regular, ongoing contributions help us maintain these weekly deliveries year-round

For LA Emergency Relief:

We need 1,000 handwritten notes for Elders affected by the wildfires
Urgently needed languages: Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Tagalog, Thai, Korean
Each note will be included in emergency care packages providing immediate support

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Suggested Messages to Help You Write with Love

The below sample messages are here to make note-writing easier! Copy them by hand and decorate around the message with bright, colorful, and uplifting illustrations to spread warmth and joy. Many of our beloved Elders keep these handwritten notes close and read them again whenever they feel lonely—it’s a beautiful reminder that someone cares. We're so grateful for your time!

Where to Send Your Completed Notes

FOR LA WILDFIRE EMERGENCY RELIEF

MAIL-IN METHOD

Address to mail to:

Heart of Dinner

2020 Columbia St, #286

San Diego, CA 92101

Important:

Mark packages "Heart of Dinner Emergency Relief Notes"
Include completed submission slip
Questions? Email us here

DROP-OFF METHOD

We're working with local businesses to set up convenient drop-off locations across LA. Check back soon for updates on where you can bring your notes in person! In the meantime, we welcome your notes through our mail-in option above.

FOR NYC WEEKLY CARE PACKAGES

NYC DROP-OFF METHOD

Location: Partybus Bakeshop, 31 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002
Drop-off Procedure:

1. Print and fill out this submission slip before arriving. Be sure that the batching instructions included in the submission slip are followed and completed PRIOR to arriving at Partybus Bakeshop.

2. Drop-off your handwritten notes during Partybus Bakeshop’s business hours. No need to schedule or call about your drop-off. Simply walk in during their open hours and say a warm hello!

3. Kindly pass off your handwritten notes at the counter with the completed submission slip.

Do you have further questions about drop-offs? Please do not contact Partybus Bakeshop regarding drop-offs as they are a busy operating bakery. Instead, contact Heart of Dinner directly by clicking here. Thank you for understanding!

NYC MAIL-IN METHOD

Instructions for Mailing Notes:
1. Be sure to fill out and include the completed submission slip.
2. Mail to the Address Below: Please note that this address is for mail-in submissions only—this space is not open to the public for drop-offs or visits. P.S. We dream of having a permanent home for Heart of Dinner in the future—thank you for being part of our journey!