There’s something magical about watching a child write their first thank-you letter. The pencil wiggles, the letters tilt in every direction, and yet, behind each shaky word is something pure, a real moment of gratitude.
That small act is where National Thank You Letter Day and National Thank You Letter Month began. I was visiting an elementary school to help kids practice handwriting, and it struck me how much the simple art of putting pen to paper had faded. Kids type before they can spell. Adults tap and swipe more than they write. I wanted to remind everyone (young and old) what it feels like to say thank you in the most human way possible: with a handwritten letter.
That idea led to a project that filled an entire basketball gym with paper, tape, markers, and joy. Dozens of volunteers and hundreds of kids came together to create what became the World’s Largest Handwritten Thank You Letter. We even mailed it in the world’s largest envelope, complete with the world’s largest stamp. The effort caught national attention, from The Kelly Clarkson Show to a Guinness World Record, but what mattered most were the smiles on those kids’ faces when they saw their words stretch across the gym floor.
Since then, classrooms, families, and communities across the country have joined in every November to celebrate National Thank You Letter Month, culminating on November 14, National Thank You Letter Day. Together, we celebrate gratitude, literacy, and the power of human connection through the lost art of writing by hand.
Why letters? Because handwriting slows us down long enough to mean what we say.
Emails vanish in an inbox. Texts are forgotten in a scroll. But a handwritten letter—something you can hold, reread, and keep—becomes a piece of someone’s heart captured in ink. It carries time, care, and presence.
When we write a thank-you letter, we give something priceless: a few minutes of ourselves. And that’s what makes it unforgettable.
How to Celebrate National Thank You Letter Day and Month
Who can participate:
-
Everyone—families, classrooms, teachers, students, community groups, and workplaces.
Why it matters:
-
Encourages literacy and writing skills
-
Builds gratitude and emotional connection
-
Easy classroom and family activity
-
Includes National Thank You Letter Day on November 14
How to join in:
-
Learn about Thank You Letter Day (and Month): Discover why gratitude and handwritten letters matter for literacy, mindfulness, and connection.
-
Download the Free Resource Kit: Access classroom activities, printable templates, and creative ideas for celebrating.
-
Write Your Thank You Letter: Take a few minutes to handwrite a thank you letter to someone who has made a difference.
-
Share Your Celebration: Post a photo or story on social media with #ThankYouLetterDay and #ThankYouLetterMonth to inspire others
Classrooms, teachers, and families are already sharing their letters of gratitude. Visit NationalThankYouLetterDay.com to see how people are celebrating right now—then add your own story to the growing wave of kindness and connection.
You can find free resources and printable materials at NationalThankYouLetterDay.com or follow @NationalThankYouLetterDay on social media. Join the celebration by posting your handwritten thank-you letters throughout November to spread the spirit of gratitude far and wide.
Carew Papritz is an award-winning author, social justice advocate, and educational thought leader best known for The Legacy Letters, a book of life lessons that continues to resonate across generations. He is a contributor to U.S. News & World Report and the Chicago Tribune, and his work has been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Fox News, Reader’s Digest, Yahoo!, and more. His national literacy campaigns—including National Thank You Letter Day & Month—have inspired audiences across the country to live with purpose and build a meaningful legacy.
Join the celebration by posting your own handwritten thank-you letter on FB or IG using #ThankYouLetterDay and #ThankYouLetterMonth to spread the message of kindness and gratitude.
