Thread by @rachsyme

so #penpalooza just hit 4000 ppl! just a little note about what it is/how to join for those who are wondering...

in early summer i asked if anyone would like to start writing snail mail to strangers; people seemed into it so i set up this exchange:

elfster.com/gift-exchanges…

it's done through secret santa software (lol) because that is the only/best way to do such things at scale; so the way it works when you sign up is you get one person to write to first, and another person gets you...so two pen pals for one sign-up (more bang for your zero bucks)

the site says "you are giving a gift to" once you are matched but the gift is really just a letter....unless you want to send chocolates or cheeses or wildflower seeds or whatever other big gestures some people had made. but really a postcard is enough!

your address is totally private except to the person who gets you as a match; also you can "mark as sent" once you put something in the mail so your person knows to expect something regardless of the USPS being slowwwww at the moment

right now the default setting is that you could end up with someone international; if this is an issue for you, send me a DM and we can work it out. on the same note, if you get a domestic match and want an additional intl person, i can do that. DM me.

i'm running this thing on nights and weekends so i promise i'll get to all your messages! just may take me a day or two. meanwhile, check/post to the #penpalooza tag for stationary inspo, updates from others who have gotten letters etc. it's a little mail gang at this point.

if after 2 weeks or so you don't get a letter, shoot me a message - i'll try to give you an additional pairing so you can keep writing. thanks to everyone for getting into this very silly thing in a very dark time. i'm leaving the exchange open for the rest of the year.