Oak Crest Pairs Up With Local Students for Pen Pal Program

By Danielle Rexrode
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Even in this age of e-mails, cell phones, and BlackBerrys, two unlikely pen pals prove the art of letter writing is still alive.

For the past three years, 21 Oak Crest volunteers have been writing letters to first through fifth grade students at Shady Spring Elementary School in Rosedale as part of a pen pal outreach program.

Each volunteer is assigned either a half or a full class to write to throughout the school year. So what could a 70-year-old and a 6-year-old have to talk about? Plenty, according to Oak Crest pen pal volunteer Violet Johnson.

“I wrote to eight kids this past year,” says Violet. “They want to know if I have grandchildren and what my life is like. They tell me about their favorite hobbies and things that they’re involved in. A lot of the boys are involved in sports and the girls seem to like soccer. I always have to remind myself to print because they can’t read in cursive yet.”

A Win-Win Situation
The experience has also been rewarding for Oak Crest volunteer Hildegard Owens. “The children love sharing their personal lives with me and even ask me personal questions, too,” she says. “They ask how old I am, my husband’s name, and if I have a baby!”

Great grandmother of four, Claire Clark requested pre-kindergarten age kids to exchange with.

“They’re adorable! Even though they can’t write yet, they draw me pictures and call me on the telephone,” says Claire. “I get so much joy from communicating with the children.”

Face to Face
At the end of each school year pen pals get the opportunity to meet one another. During the visit, volunteers are able to answer questions from the children, read stories, and work on art projects with them.

At this year’s meeting many volunteers came home with posters, cards, and art projects made especially for them by the students.