The Community Resource Centre (CRE) in Fergus, Ont., is inviting people to join its new pen-pal program, “Sending Support,” which is aimed at “creating connections and sharing experiences of a very unique time in history.”
Open the entire community but focused on children, seniors and caregivers, the program is fully funded by the Centre Wellington Community Foundation. All supplies, including postage and stationery, are free for participants, who are asked to send at least one letter a month.
“We wanted to address that loneliness issue presented by the pandemic in a way that would be different than the technology we heavily rely on,” program co-ordinator Sarah Keating, who’s also a childcare teacher, told GuelphToday.
Participants will be matched based on location, interests and age, the latter of which ranges from five to 95.
“Privacy is a main consideration of our program so we will be using first names and last initials for all correspondence,” according to the CRE website, communityresourcecentre.org.
To join the program, which is slated to begin in September, visit bit.ly/3aYFsC7.
For larger groups, such as a school class or a seniors’ centre, contact Keating via email at sarahlynnkeating@outlook.com.