In honor of the end of Women’s History Month, it is only right to give acknowledgement to those women who are making history right before our very eyes. In October of 2010, Hannah Brencher, a graduate of Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, came up with an idea that would change the lives of countless people not only across the country, but around the world. Never did she imagine that just two years after this idea came about she would have her own iconic “love letter business.”
It began with 400 love letters. They were scattered all about New York City for random strangers to find and have their day made just a little brighter. As people began to recognize these little pick me ups, the public was eager to get involved. With a boost of confidence from an official interview with the Wall Street Journal, Hannah came up with the brilliant idea to orchestrate a website where people could request love letters and also contribute their own. With the help of today’s social media, this site became an instant hit.
Hannah now is backed by a trusty team of twelve love letter writers whom she refers to as “an army of dedicated letter writers who answer a monthly call to love letters.” These writers have applied through the online application on the site, which even includes a sample of penmanship, so she has the most authentic and unique writers around! When I asked Hannah what she looked for in these writers, she stated, “ I want the team to be comprised of individuals who love handwritten letter writing, but also have a compassionate spirit, a poetic heart, and understand social media.” Hannah sure knows what she wants for her team, and so far she has succeeded with flying colors.
The World Needs More Love Letters writers write to all different types of people. From those who are sick to those who are just having a bad day, the site accepts any and all stories, and will never turn a request for a letter down.
Hannah’s theory is that everyone deserves a love letter when they need it, and if those closest to the person can’t quite form the words to cheer them up, then this online community of writers is on the job.
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Hannah’s amazing story has not only been featured on several stationary company sites and blogs, but also in places, such as the Wall Street Journal, Oprah.com, The Daily Candy, Hello Giggles, I Heart Daily, and the White House Blog! I had the honor of inquiring about some of her most memorable stories, and here is the response, straight from Hannah herself: “I think the most memorable stories come from the lives that are shifted by these love letters. I used to think that a single handwritten note could not change a thing but I see every single day how these letters open doors and unlock hearts. It is a deep, deep pleasure to watch it unfold. I remember when I first started the site I wondered if it would work…. if it would actually help people. Then, a week after I put the site out there, a girl emailed me from Pensacola, FL. She proceeded to tell me that she was in her university bathroom, having one of those days where she felt absolutely worthless. She noticed a letter on the sink, picked up and it read it. She started crying immediately because the note was all about how she worthy and beautiful and unique. Someone had written “moreloveletters.com” on the side of it and she came back to us. That was when I really knew and said to myself, ‘This thing is going to spread. It is actually going to spread… and that means it could work… it could really work.’”
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