I remember when I was young, how much I enjoyed getting something in the mail. I used to sign up for travel clubs and marketing solicitations from the back cover of my comic books just so I could experience the thrill of opening the mailbox and pulling out something with my name on it.
My favorite pieces of mail, however, were hand-written letters from friends and relatives. In the days before Facebook and cell phones, when communication wasn’t as easy or instantaneous, letters were a vital connection to the world.
My memories of those days are one of the reasons I sign up every year to participate in the Webster Recreation Center’s Pen-Pal Program. It’s my way of bringing a little bit of that joy to a young person, while at the same time, encouraging vital reading and writing skills.
You can read about the program in the flyer, but here’s what it says:
Remember the old days when you used to write letters? Join the Webster 55+ folks and the Autumn Lane (Greece Elementary School) second graders as we become pen-pals. Sign up and you will be assigned a second-grade student to write a letter to each month. Then in May, we will take a trip to Autumn Lane to meet your pen-pal in person! You must be committed to this program for an entire year.
This will be the third year in which I’ve participated in the program, so I’ve had the pleasure of writing to and connecting with two Autumn Lane (then) second-graders. Our meet-and-greets in May are always an exciting day for both of us as we finally get to meet face-to-face and continue the conversations we started in our letters.
The program will run from October 2025 through next May. To register, visit the Webster Parks and Recreation website and search for activity #346905-A. Or call the Rec Center at (585) 872-7103 (which is a lot easier than navigating their website). There’s no cost, just your commitment to help some students fall in love with writing, and reading.
So please consider joining; you won’t regret it.
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(posted 8/24/2025)
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Thanks for sharing this information. I was interested when you wrote about it after last year’s meet and greet.
Mary Alice Moore
Thanks for sharing this information. I was interested when you wrote about it after last year’s meet and greet.
Mary Alice Moore