Pekin third-graders to become pen pals with senior volunteers

PACKWOOD — A pen pal program for youngsters that began in Fairfield is expanding into Pekin this school year.

John Miller, the coordinator for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Jefferson County, said that his team of senior volunteers will begin corresponding with Pekin third-graders, after the plan was recently approved by the school’s administration.

Miller said he’s still looking for volunteers who wish to participate in the program, which will feature 43 third-graders in Jenny Hahn’s classroom. So far, he’s found volunteers to write to 37 of the students, and could use a few more people willing to write to the other six students.

“Some volunteers will write to more than one student, but most are just doing a single student,” Miller said. “A couple of volunteers are writing to two students, and one is writing to four.”

Miller said the students will begin the correspondence, and the pairs of pen pals will each write three or four letters per semester. He said the only requirement for the senior volunteers is that they not write in cursive because the students haven’t learned that yet. Letters can be handwritten or typed.

“People can write a page, or even longer,” Miller said. “I tended to write a full page or more, asking the child about their interests. If there’s a holiday coming up, you can ask if they have any plans for it.”

Miller started a pen pal program at Pence Elementary School in Fairfield in 2017, where members of RSVP wrote back and forth with a class of fourth-graders. Since then, RSVP has expanded its pen pal program to include Maharishi School in Fairfield, and Community Child Care, also in Fairfield.

Miller asks his senior pen pals to fill out a profile, so the students know something about them before their first letter. The students are also asked to fill out a profile, then Miller tries to match students and seniors who have similar interests.

Common topics of conversation between the pan pals are favorite hobbies, movies, and books. Writing about pets is a popular pastime, too, and any summer vacations planned.

“People tend to really enjoy this, the students and senior pen pals enjoy the interaction,” Miller said.

For those who’d like to become a pen pal with RSVP, contact Miller via email at j.miller@wapellocouw.org, or via phone at 641-919-4242.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com