SHAMc houses a secret: We have a mailbox full of love letters!
The Love Letters Mailbox project places mailboxes throughout public spaces in Tampa Bay where community members can leave and take anonymous handwritten letters of encouragement. Local youth Daynie started the Loveletters Mailbox project a few years ago, starting with one mailbox, and it's since taken off with multiple locations all over Tampa.
Anyone can write a positive message, poem, or drawing, then place it unsealed in a mailbox. Similarly, anyone passing by can take a letter that resonates with them. No names are exchanged – it's purely about spreading kindness between strangers.
These mailboxes create unexpected moments of connection in an increasingly digital world. They serve as tangible reminders that community members care about each other, even if they've never met. The simplicity is what makes it powerful: write something uplifting, share it, and know you've brightened someone's day somewhere in Tampa Bay.
Come by SHAMc and add your love letter to the project! Scroll down for an interview with Daynie, the Creator of Love Letters Mailbox!
We took a moment to catch up with Daynie and ask her some questions about her project:
SHAMc: Can you summarize the Love Letters Mailbox project in two sentences?
Daynie: Love Letters Mailbox began as a way to spread love throughout the community through “hidden” public mailboxes that feature notebooks and pens inside, inviting visitors to leave a letter to whoever they may choose. There are currently 10 mailboxes throughout Florida that house thousands upon thousands of Love Letters!
S: Tell us about a love letter that you’ll never forget.
D: One letter I will never forget was a marriage proposal left in one of the Dunedin Mailboxes! The couple actually messaged me and said they visited the box on one of their first few dates and shared how full circle it was to be able to get engaged there.
S: How do you choose where to put a Love Letter Mailbox?
D: I try to choose locations that mean a lot to me already. Parks I used to go to with my family, trails I grew up riding my bike along, I actually have one at the spot where my parents had their first kiss which I think is super special.
S: Why did you choose to put a mailbox at SHAMc?
D: I love the SHAMc! I have so many fond memories of visiting Whimzeyland as a kid and when I began expanding “Love Letters” it just felt like the perfect fit. They have done such an incredible job curating and creating such a love filled environment and I’m honored to be a part of it in some way!
S: If someone wanted to do this for their community, how could they contact you and/or what advice would you give?
D: If someone was interested in doing something like this in their community I would love to chat with them! I’m always looking to expand & add more locations both locally and beyond and I would absolutely love to connect with anyone who resonates with the project!
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