What is a Chapter?
What is a Chapter?
Embedded Files
A Paper Hearts Initiative chapter is a student-led group that brings our mission of kindness and connection to a local school or community. Chapters organize letter-writing events, recruit volunteers, collect handwritten messages, and help deliver encouragement to children in hospitals and residents in senior living communities.
Each chapter is led by one or more student leaders and supported by a faculty advisor. Chapters done at home have an adult family member monitoring the system instead. By starting a chapter, students have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, develop leadership skills, earn service hours, and inspire others to spread kindness through something as simple as handwritten letters.
No matter the size or legitimacy of the chapter, every letter has the power to brighten someone's day and remind them that they are not alone.
Why Should I Start a Chapter?
Why Should I Start a Chapter?
1. Make a meaningful impact
Spread kindness to those in hospitals and care facilities
Help people feel seen, supported, and connected through simple acts of service
2. Low effort, high reward
Our chapter system is already established, super flexible, and easy to follow
All you need is school approval, a few members, and letters!
3. Building your future
Create a long-term passion project with measurable impact
Strengthen college, scholarship, and internship applications
The Process
The Process
Chapter Setup
Chapter Setup
Read Chapter Info Guide (linked below)
Decide how your Chapter will be set
An official chapter at your school
A school club
An at-home activity
Start your club/school chapter — talk to a teacher who will monitor the chapter (most schools require one)
Submit application form (also linked below)
After Paper Hearts approves, get officially recognized as a chapter at your school
Recruit members while Paper Hearts sets up your first drive
Ask any questions through the WhatsApp group you will be added to
Monthly Drives
Monthly Drives
Paper Hearts sends over monthly target, assigned organizations, and any special instructions, such as any seasonal themes or letter adjustments
Chapter leader announces goals to members
Chapters may have their own group chat, Remind, or Google Classroom with their members, however they'd like to schedule meetings and get information across
Chapter leader schedules month’s meetings (meet as much or as little as you want, 1 monthly meeting minimum)
Chapter leader assigns responsibilities however they choose (e.g. each member does 20 letters, if one member has responsibilities, they do less, etc.)
Members (and possibly leader too) writes letters, following guidelines
Chapter leaders tracks all progress throughout the month and ensure their minimum goals are reached
Either the chapter leader or the faculty advisor reviews letters before delivery
Before shipment, collect all letters and recount to ensure none has gone missing
When recounting, any person who's a part of the chapter will take a quick video of all of the letters (no details or special letter showcasing needed, all we need to see is that you've made the amount of letters you've claimed to have made!)
Group letters by organization if you were assigned multiple partners
Chapter sends letters
Option 1: Members take turns shipping letters to organization
Option 2: Leader ships letters
Option 3: Faculty member ships letters (recommended)
Chapter submits Google Sheet log (provided each month; includes your vidoe and the amount of letters made)
Paper Hearts verifies delivery with partners
Repeat next month!
Chapter Requirements
Chapter Requirements
Each chapter must have a minimum of:
1 chapter leader
1 faculty advisor (teacher, counselor, administrator, etc.)
3 active members
Monthly, chapters must:
Host at least 1 letter-writing event per month
Collect letters and ensure they are positive, appropriate, and anonymous
Complete a minimum number of letters each month (will be given to you via email monthly)
Fill out the monthly report (will also be given to you monthly)
Film a video showing all of the letters
Check emails
Chapter leaders are expected to:
Represent Paper Hearts Initiative professionally
Treat all recipients with respect
Follow safety and privacy guidelines
Promote kindness and inclusion
Expectations for Each Kind of Chapter
Expectations for Each Kind of Chapter
Official School Chapters must:
Receive approval from its school
Secure a faculty advisor
Submit a chapter application
At-Home Chapters must:
Receive approval from parents
Secure an adult monitor
Submit a chapter application
Flexibility
Flexibility
Chapters are given the freedom to decide:
How they schedule meetings / card-making stations
Where they operate (at school or at home)
The kind of cards being sent (digital, handwritten, artistic, long, short, etc.)
Their preferred method of delivering cards
The members of their chapters
And much more!
Chapter Links
Chapter Links
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