Making Connections From Home

This pandemic has made almost everyone feel isolated. But it's still possible to make connections. Whether you have a teen who's ready to hone language skills or take on volunteer responsibilities, or your family needs a project that will provide a diversion and a chance for learning, we've got ideas to get you started. These suggestions will work from almost anywhere, but it's likely that your local senior care center or assisted living facility would welcome notes, calls, or artwork for a lonely resident, or perhaps you've lost touch with a distant relative? There's never been a better time to reach out and connect with someone.

Pen Pal Style Connections

Students of the World	Kid-friendly site, kid and adult pen pal areas
Global Penfriends	Connect with a pen pal for snail mail letter writing
Pen Pal World	Kids and adults can connect
International Pen Friends	Postal connections only & fee; members connect with someone the same age who lives elsewhere

Fun Together

Connected Camps	Offers a free, moderated Minecraft server
Indraloka Animal Sanctuary	Young kids can connect with animals
Blake Boles	Unschooler Blake Boles hosts informal Zoom meet-ups for self-directed teenagers
Chess Kid	Learn and play chess online

Learning

Online Classes	Don't forget our big list of online resources and classes!
Skype a Scientist	Attend an online talk by a scientist - Skype a Scientist specializes in teaching classes, but they also offer talks open to the general public
Code Club	Find a free coding club for your 9-13 year old
Your Local Library	Many local libraries are offering virtual book clubs

Language Practice

Conversation Exchange	Designed for language learners to connect. Filter by a variety of language and either pen pal correspondence or using chat software
Share Ami	Online conversations in French, designed to connect proficient French students with elderly native French speakers
Courriere Solidaire	Pen pals in French, designed for those fluent in French
Adopta Un Abuela	Pair up with a Spanish-speaking senior
My Language Exchange	Connects language learners with each other

Helping Out

Be My Eyes	Free app to connect sighted individuals with blind or low-sight individuals and assist through live video calls
Extraordinary History Project	Pairs writers or student writers with isolated seniors who speak on the phone once a week to write the elder's life story
AgeUK	Volunteer to befriend a senior in the uK with a weekly phone call
Compassion	Sponsor and write to a child living in poverty
Children International	Sponsor and write to a child living in poverty
Lifting Hearts with the Arts	Teen volunteers connect with seniors in care facilities in a select (but growing number of) states
Library of Congress	Teens and adults can virtually volunteer by helping to transcribe documents
HumanKind	Teens and adults can virtually volunteer with tutoring or tech or social support for seniors
LibriVox	Teens and adults can read books in the public domain to make them accessible via audio
Teenangels and Tweenangels	Teens (13 to 18) and tweens (7 to 12) complete training to learn about online safety and help their peers
VocaliD	Share your voice to help create a diverse array of synthetic voices for those with speech issues
Do Something	This youth-led movement offers a variety of ways to volunteer for good

Supporting Soldiers

Soldiers' Angels	Send at least one letter per week and one package per month to a deployed soldier
Operation Gratitude	Write letters, make bracelets, or provide other virtual support
America's Adopt a Soldier	A variety of volunteer opportunities including letter writing, care packages, and special events
Soldier Assist	Adopt a soldier