Brenda Reeve | Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of Centre County
For many of us, pen pals were a staple part of our childhood. Schools, Churches and Scout groups regularly matched pen pals with overseas pen pals, promoting cultural exchange and helping with language practice. Written notes detailing favorite hobbies and pets' names were sent back and forth and while most correspondences fizzled out after the first couple of letters, some continued for many years, some even a life time.
It would be easy to assume that email and social media has ended the traditional pen pal. However, it is continuing here in Centre County with the Retired & Senior Volunteer Pen Pal Program.
The RSVP Pen Pal program began in 2003 and connects adults 18 years of age and over with students at Bald Eagle Area Elementary Schools. The program reaches 800 children every year!
Bob - embarked on writing to students in 2003 when the Pen Pal Program started. He saw his first pal graduate a few years ago. Bob has mentored and written to 14 student pals over the past 14 years. Throughout this time Bob and the students have met face-to-face at the end of the school year at a Meet & Greet. They shared laughs, drawings, snacks, and projects.
Wanda – an RSVP volunteer, has been a pal for four years. She states, “Unfortunately in 2017, letter writing is in jeopardy of becoming a lost art. The RSVP Pen Pal Program helps keep that skill alive.”
Wouldn’t you like to be part of this letter writing program by writing letters to students?
How to get started – Please contact the RSVP staff at 355-6816, or email Brenda and
Maryanne at rsvp@centrecountypa.gov for more information.
Let’s keep writing alive one letter at a time! It doesn’t take a lot of time, but it has a lot of meaning!
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