Catholic Charities outlines countywide pen-pal program connecting students and seniors

Representatives from Catholic Charities briefed the board on April 23 about a countywide Pen Pal Program that pairs elementary-school students with older adults at senior centers, assisted-living and nursing facilities.

Cheryl Villegas, director of Catholic Charities in Ashland and Wayne counties, introduced the program and turned the presentation over to Denise Conrad, the program coordinator. Conrad said the program began as a multi-generational mentoring pilot before COVID and pivoted to letters during the pandemic. This year the program includes roughly 17 classrooms and about 255 children—‘‘about 1.3% of the county population,’’ she said—and many local groups participate, including law enforcement, the fire department, hospitals and churches.

Conrad described both lighthearted and deeply personal exchanges between students and older adults, and said the program provides adults with social contact while giving students additional trusted adults to support their development. Commissioners praised the initiative; one commissioner said the program fosters trust across generations and another encouraged volunteer visits and classroom interactions.

Conrad said volunteers and program partners review letters for safety, deliver small group visits and produce a small book that travels between students and adults; at the end of the year participating students receive their book and program partners sometimes visit classrooms for assemblies.

What’s next: Catholic Charities will leave informational materials with the commissioners and expects to coordinate volunteer visits and classroom interactions through school contacts and senior-center schedules.