Event center abuzz as pen pals meet in person

Broghan likes pizza and math. Cindy likes Siamese cats and Arabian horses. They found common ground in their spring semester pen pal relationship, a connection established through St. Patrick Catholic School (our Partner in Education) and Western Home Communities. 

The 26 residents and 52 students finally met at Diamond Event Center on May 20 after months of exchanging letters filled with stories of pets, families, spring break and favorite foods, colors and games. Refreshments, books and card games fostered more conversation and intergenerational learning, as students taught residents how to play slap jack and go fish.  

Cindy Fisher of Prairie Wind thoroughly enjoyed her experience. She answered each of Broghan and Isabel’s letters. They provided colorful artwork and insights into the mind and life of seven and eight-year-olds. “I decided to do this because kids who are 8 years old have another world and I was interested in that!” she said. When she heard the teachers instruct students to “please line up,” she did a little time travel back to her own elementary school years. “I remember hearing that a long time ago!”

Renae Drey teaches the first- and second-graders.  St. Patrick promotes service learning, but the pandemic eliminated some options.  

 “A brainstorming session in November prompted students to think of people who would enjoy more social interaction during the pandemic,” Ms. Drey said. The students learned how to format letters and envelopes, practiced their handwriting and learned the social skill of exchanging information.  They even walked from school to the post office to mail the letters. 

Jane Ingraham of Prairie Wind is from a family of educators so she saw this volunteer opportunity as a way to pay it forward. “We all know how important education is and when we can contribute to a positive experience for youth, we should do it,” she said.  

Joyce McGivern sent postcards from the Grand Canyon so her pen pals would know she was thinking of them, even though she could not attend the event. “It is good for each of us to be interested in other topics and points of view,” she said. Joyce remembers having a pen pal from Australia when she was a sixth grader. “It was fun to learn more about another person and place.” That does not change over the decades!

Bev Michael believes letter-writing is still important even though some think it is going out of style. She was delighted by her two pen pals, both boys. She raised girls so it was fun to learn about what interests elementary-age boys. Bev previously volunteered at Kingsley and Hanson elementary schools. “I really like this age group,” she said, “I think the experience gave students a new perspective on aging.”