It's the season for spreading love, and Montana Livingston, a sophomore marketing major from Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, and friends offer Huskers an easy way to send love to the people who need it most with Letters of Love.
Livingston shared examples of Letters of Love, which they create and send to sick children.
“Letters of Love is a global nonprofit started in Minnesota by a girl who lost her mother to cancer. Her mother would always write her letters, so she decided to start her own foundation where she writes letters to sick children all over the world to offer them love and support,” Livingston said.
Livingston, who became familiar with the organization as a high school student, decided it was time to bring the Letters of Love to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and help Huskers use the small act of letter writing to make a big impact.
As it turned out, she wasn’t the only one with this idea.
“My co-presidents Macie Sides, Marissa McDonald and I coincidentally all reached out to SLICE (Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement) at the same time to ask about starting Letters of Love, so they asked if we wanted to work together,” explained Livingston. “We didn’t even know each other at the time, but I’m so grateful we met through this.”
Anyone can show up to a Letters of Love meeting to create a card, Livingston said. In her view, it’s a low-stakes way to brighten someone’s day and even help clear your own head.
“It’s super low commitment — you can come and relax after a long day, make a card and know that you’re doing something small that will be so big for someone who’s fighting through a really hard time.”
Livingston stresses that any level of creativity and craftiness is welcomed.
“The letters are anonymous for both the writers and recipients. You can make it as personal as you want, or we have templates and examples to go off of,” she said. “After they’re done, they’re given over to us and sent all over the world.”
For Livingston, Letters of Love has been a therapeutic way of decompressing and reflecting on the bigger picture.
“Even on bad days, I can literally just sit in my room, write a card and start to feel better,” she said. “It sounds so silly because it's so simple, but it’s so meaningful to someone out there.”
Letters of Love UNL is one of over 500 recognized student organizations, including 25 business-related clubs.
Published: February 13, 2025