top of page
General Card Writing
Our General Card Writing Program has been retired as Sending Sunshine evolves and focuses on creating more personal connections between card writers and seniors through our Senior Nomination Program.
Absolutely. We have enough cards to continue supporting care facilities and seniors. If your facility would like to request cards, please email info@sendingsunshine.ca.
Cards should be no smaller than 4x5.5 inches.
No! We welcome both store bought and handmade cards. Let your creativity run wild!
If you want to save money but are having trouble making a handmade card, this website is a good online card and envelope maker! Just make sure to handwrite the actual message though! You can also purchase a card from our Redbubble Store.
The card you send to one of our nominated seniors should contain thoughtful, uplifting, and cheerful messages. It should be handwritten and contain an introduction of yourself. You can also include any hobbies, interests, or past-times. More ideas are outlined in the card writing help section of our website
While we are no longer providing volunteer hours for cards written and sent to our PO Box, you can now earn volunteer hours for writing cards through our Senior Nomination Program. Click here to learn more!
Charity + Donations
Our charity registration number is 730627478RR0001. You can also confirm the status of our charity at CRA’s website here.
As a charity, we operate exclusively for charitable purposes, we are registered with the CRA, we submit annual information to the CRA, and we can issue donations receipts for income tax purposes to our donors.
We accept donations via our website (PayPal and Donor Box donations).
Sending Sunshine will be using the donations to carry out daily activities and fund future activities to bring sunshine to not only seniors living in Canada but those around the world. In addition, this will also help fund our Pen Pal program to ensure that we can carry out the program to aid in creating more intergenerational connections.
Yes, at Sending Sunshine, we issue receipts for donations for over $25.
Yes. Sending Sunshine will issue the receipt to the true donor of the gift.
Please send us an email at finance@sendingsunshine.ca and we will look into the issue for you. Our aim is always to respond to our general inquiries within two to three business days.
CRA requires charities to keep a copy of all receipts we issue at least two years from the end of the calendar year the donations were made in.
Sending Sunshine will send out all donation receipts by February 28th of the calendar year as per suggested by the CRA. For support on receiving your receipt please email us at finance@sendingsunshine.ca
By law, once donations are made there is a transfer of ownership from the donor to the charity. Once we receive the donations Sending Sunshine is obliged to use the donation to carry out our charitable purposes. For more information on returning donations, please visit CRA’s website for clarification.
Please visit CRA’s website for more information on claiming charitable tax credits. They also have an online tool where you can calculate your charitable donation tax credit
Chapters
Chapter Leaders are expected to deliver the cards to seniors in local care homes, retirement residences, or community organizations that support older adults.
No. We only accept new Chapter applications from May 1st-October 31st.
Yes! While many Chapters are school-based, you can also run a Chapter independently in your community.
Yes! We have many Sending Sunshine chapters that are located outside of Canada.
Yes! You can create a Chapter for your specific community (town/city/school).
In this case, you can reach out to Chapter members who are not graduating, to see if any would have an interest in becoming the Chapter Leader once you graduate. You can also ask your guidance counsellor for assistance!
Senior Nomination Program
Yes!
Yes! Please complete the Google Form to submit your cards for this month.
Absolutely! You can nominate any senior you know, regardless of where they live. This includes seniors who live independently in the community.
Pen Pal Program
No, participation in our Pen Pal Program is not claimable towards the fulfillment of volunteer hours.
Yes, your letter must be handwritten. We do not accept typed out letters.
The letters should have a minimum of 20 sentences, with an average of 15-20 words each.
Once registered in the Pen Pal Program, you will be required to write a minimum of six letters throughout your time in the program.
As the Pen Pal Program currently has a waitlist, you may only sign up once to be paired with one pen pal. However, in the future we hope to facilitate multiple connections among pen pals concurrently.
Yes, but adding a gift is not required. The secure packaging and additional postage of the added gift(s) will be the responsibility of the sender. Please note, food items will not be accepted.
Yes! As you are required to send in a minimum of six letters, you will also receive a minimum of six handwritten letters from the senior you have written to.
Questions? We can answer them via Contact Us.
bottom of page