Oregonians Invited to Share “What’s Real”

For more than a decade, Oregon Humanities has been connecting strangers across the state through handwritten letters. Its Dear Stranger project, now in its 11th year, invites Oregonians to exchange letters with people they’ve never met, fostering connections across differences in background, belief, and experience.

The rules are simple: write a letter, send it in, and receive one in return. Each year, hundreds of Oregonians take part in the program, which runs three themed rounds annually. This fall’s writing prompt asks participants to reflect on a single question: “Write about what is real.”

To make participation easier, Oregon Humanities has expanded the project beyond the mailbox. In partnership with libraries and museums statewide, the organization has placed bright red “Dear Stranger” drop-boxes at letter-writing stations stocked with supplies. Locations include Beaverton, Bend, Hood River, Medford, Roseburg, Tillamook, and more. A full map is available at oregonhumanities.org/programs/dear-stranger.

Letters are exchanged anonymously, and participants are free to continue correspondence if they wish. Submissions for this round must be postmarked by Oct. 31, 2025, and mailed to: Oregon Humanities, Attn: Dear Stranger, 610 SW Alder St., Suite 1111, Portland, OR 97205.

“Reading a letter from someone you’d probably never meet gives you a window into the life and mind of another person,” said Ben Waterhouse, communications director for Oregon Humanities. “We hope participants will find they have more in common than they might have guessed.”

More details, including instructions for participation, are available on the Oregon Humanities website.