Students at Warminster Elementary School have worked hard to make Christmas meaningful to the residents at Trillium Manor and Leacock Retirement Lodge this Christmas, as part of a pen pal program.
Beth Kudar, a special education teacher at Warminster Elementary School, set up the program after her two teenagers forged pen-pal relationships with local seniors over the course of the pandemic.
“It gave the kids something to do, and then it ended up being this amazing relationship both ways,” Kudar said.
“I think my own kids benefited as much from it as the seniors, even though the intention was to support the people in the long term care homes and give them something to smile about.”
Children from almost all of the classes at Warminster Elementary School wrote letters to isolated seniors while wearing masks, and after sanitizing their hands. The letters were then quarantined upon arriving at each retirement home.
“The kids did such a great job, and believe it or not, the kids can really relate with the people they are writing to,” Kudar said.
“From their experiences in the spring, they know what it’s like to be isolated and not being able to see friends and some family.”
Students wrote to seniors while keeping in mind how they might be feeling during the holidays, unable to see loved ones, and feeling disconnected from the community. The students showed empathy and expressed encouragement in their letters, she said.
“I really wish you could be with your family,” wrote Grade 1 student, Vivian, to her pen pal.
“It must be hard to be away from your family like this. I’m worried about my grandparents because they live far away from me,” wrote Katie, a Grade 6 student, to her pen pal.
“So far we have no cases in any classes, I’m grateful for that.”
Now students will wait to see if they get a letter back when they return to school after the extended holiday break.
“I know the students are really hoping to receive a letter back. It would be really neat if some of the students could develop a further relationship with the residents,” Kudar said.
Kudar says seniors are missing out on feeling connected with their community this year, and students can relate.
“I think it’s important for the students to feel connected with their community, especially this year,” she said.
Trillium Manor program and support services supervisor, Crystal Rosewell, says the seniors are appreciative of the students for reaching out to them during the holidays.
“They enjoy getting the letters because it gives them that connection and lets them feel involved with what’s happening in the community,” Rosewell said.
Rosewell adds that the pen pal program gives seniors something to look forward to.
“They look forward to getting the letters. A lot of the kids include pictures of themselves with their family or some artwork they have done, and it makes them feel special,” she said.
At Leacock Retirement Lodge, Rachel Sedore, recreation coordinator, says the pen pal program is invaluable to the seniors who reside there.
“I think it means a lot to them this holiday season. A lot of them like to be engaged in the community, so I think it’s a nice way for them to connect during these times,” she said.
Sedore says seniors were impressed with how much thought and effort went into each letter.
“I think it’s really meaningful for them. All the cards are very well done; there are really nice photos on them,” she said.
“It provides a little bit of a pick-me-up, and a happy token to remind them that there are people thinking about them, and they are not alone.”