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For 10 years, Oregon Humanities’ Dear Stranger project has invited Oregonians to exchange letters with people they’ve never met. Since 2014, more than 1,000 people have sent letters to Dear Stranger and received letters from other writers in exchange.
Oregon Humanities is partnering with libraries and museums across Oregon, including the Tillamook County Library. The downtown Tillamook library will host a bright red “Dear Stranger” drop box in the entry hallway. Envelopes for your letter, as well as brochures with additional information are provided.
When you write to Dear Stranger, your letter will be swapped with one from another writer. They will get your letter; you will get theirs. The exchange is anonymous, and you can share as little or as much information about yourself as you like.
The winter 2025 theme is “Currents”. All participants are invited to respond to the following prompt:
How do waterways shape the place you live, the work you do, or what you do for recreation? Are there rivers, lakes, bays, or other bodies of water that are especially meaningful for you? Or think about other kinds of currents or flow: trends, fashions, gossip, creativity, or the movement of humans and other animals. What comes up for you?
Letters need to be submitted to the library on or before February 28th. Library staff will ensure entries are returned to Oregon Humanities. Participants can expect to receive a letter from another writer in March.
This project is supported by funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services’ IMLS 250 project in partnership with the Federation of State Humanities Councils.
For more information, please contact Luke Kralik, Tillamook County Main Library Manager, luke.kralik@tillamookcounty.gov.
The Tillamook County Library is a County tax payer supported organization dedicated to lifelong learning, access to library services, inclusion and respect. By promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement, the library creates a strong and vibrant community. The library provides resources and programs that empower individuals of all ages to explore, discover, and grow. For more information, please visit www.tillabook.org.
