Send a Letter to Your Sponsored Child

Writing to your sponsored child is a way for you to get to know and encourage them. Throughout the year, you will receive invitations to write. You can also send a letter anytime by mail or online.

MAIL YOUR LETTER

Send to:
Food for the Hungry
Attn: Child Sponsorship Department
2 N Central Avenue Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85004

(Include your sponsored child’s ID# on both the letter and the envelope)

WRITE ONLINE

Send your letter online by logging in to your account. If it’s your first time, click forgot password to get into your account.

Once logged in, you can write your letter and also send a photo to your sponsored child.

What should I write about?

When writing to your sponsored child, be sure to keep your messages upbeat and encouraging.

Things you can write about are:

Share about your family and the activities you enjoy.
Ask your sponsored child what they like to do, and ask about their family.
Remind your sponsored child they are special, loved, smart, and full of potential.
Tell your sponsored child you care about them, and that’s why you’re their sponsor.
If you pray for your sponsored child and their family regularly, tell them so.

Can I send photos

Yes! Just as you love seeing photos of your sponsored child, they will love receiving a photo of you.

Please make sure that the clothing worn in the photo is extremely modest (no tank tops, tight clothes, low-cut shirts, short skirts, or shorts). Also, please refrain from showing pets in your photo. Dogs, pigs, and other animals are considered unclean in many cultures.

Lastly, please write your sponsored child’s id# on the back of the photo(s).

Can I send gifts?

You can send paper based gifts with your letter, such as a sticker sheet, bookmark, postcard, photo, or coloring sheet.

We are only able to send paper based gifts, so please do not send other gifts like cash, candy, food, or clothing, as these items are unaccepted.

How long will it take to receive a letter back?

When you write a letter to your sponsored child, you should expect to receive a response from him or her in approximately 90 days. At certain times of the year (most notably Christmas), it can take slightly longer.

What should not be included in letters?

For the safety of your sponsored child and your family, please do not include any of the following in your letters:

Your home address or other identifying information such as an email address or phone number.
Food, money, toys, school supplies, or personal care items.
Photos that show your pets, since dogs, pigs, and other animals are considered unclean in many other cultures.

Also, please do not include any inappropriate topics, such as topics of sexuality, political views, or medical advice. Examples of other topics that are not appropriate include asking about personal contact information, expressing an atheistic worldview, or sharing too much about personal possessions or wealth. FH reviews all letters from sponsors and will screen out any information that should not be sent to sponsored children.

Writing to Children in Sensitive Communities

Sponsored children in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and parts of Ethiopia, live in what we call sensitive communities. In sensitive communities, the culture or laws make traditional evangelism ineffective, illegal, or even dangerous.

If you sponsor a child in a sensitive community, please talk about God and your faith in general terms rather than using the words “Jesus,” “Christ,” “Holy Spirit,” “Bible,” etc. In this way, you’ll be caring for your sponsored child, respecting the child’s unique culture and allowing FH leaders to use your words as an entry point for sharing the gospel in culturally appropriate ways.