Posted August 28, 2025
Handwritten letters may feel like a relic from history, but for nearly 500 children in Ashland County, letter-writing is connecting them to an older generation – thanks to a program from Catholic Charities Ashland County.
What began as a connection between one Loudonville classroom and Catholic Charities Ashland County’s Golden Center program has grown exponentially in just the last few years.
In rural Ashland County, the Golden Centers provide social connection, education and community resources for seniors. Social isolation is a health risk factor for anyone but can be especially compounded for older adults. The Pen Pal Project opened a unique door of connection to the young people of Ashland County.
“Four years ago, we were looking for ways to increase connection for seniors isolated through the pandemic,” said Denise Conrad, program coordinator. “We had one group of seniors and one classroom – and the word of mouth and requests for more participation took off from there.”
This fall, the Pen Pal Project aims to reach more than 1,000 individuals by partnering older adults with students from 20 elementary school classrooms in Ashland County. With the help of their teachers, each student writes a letter to their pen pal in a notebook that is then shared with seniors to write their responses. Some use prompts (“What is your favorite sport?” “Talk about a time when…”), while others write about feelings and experiences they want to share.
She said the conversations range from the fun and silly (“One of the children closed their letter with ‘P.S. – What’s your favorite cheese?’”); to family hardships (“Another said, ‘My mom died two years ago. My dad has a new girlfriend, and I don’t think she likes me.’”); to social anxiety that spans generations (“One third grader’s letter just had two sentences: ‘There’s this girl and this dance. Any advice?’”).
The pen pals respond to the children with care, compassion and humor. At the end of the school year, each student can take home their notebook of letters as a personal keepsake.
She said seniors seem to really enjoy the perspectives of their pen pals and want to see the world through young people’s eyes.
“They love getting to think like a child,” Denise said. “Sometimes the age gap makes it interesting: one student asked his pen pal, ‘What’s your favorite video game?’ The response he got? ‘Son, when I was your age, we didn’t even have telephones!’”
And it’s not just the seniors – young people are gaining valuable insight and finding healthy outlets to share their feelings.
In reflection, one student said, “I can talk to someone who doesn’t see me, but still knows me.”
“She always understood me,” said another.
Denise said the young people get to practice interpersonal skills as well as the art of listening, sharing and respect. One senior even expressed excitement about seeing their pen pal’s grammar and handwriting improve over the course of the year.
Thanks to gifts from the Ashland County Community Foundation, the Barb Queer Charitable Fund, the Dr. JoAnn Ford Watson Charitable Fund, the Hugo H. and Mabel B. Young Foundation and the Mohican Area Community Fund, the Pen Pal Project will continue through the 2025-2026 school year.
Sheryl Villegas, director of Catholic Charities Ashland and Wayne counties, says the response to the program has been tremendous.
“This has had a ripple effect across the community,” she said. Other organizations – not just seniors – have asked to participate, including first responders and the college community of Ashland University.
“The unexpected multi-generational connections and passion for community service are wonderful to see,” she said.
As Ashland County’s population continues to age, the success of the Pen Pal Project may help stave off increasing isolation and social disconnection and help a new generation gain wisdom, personal growth – and penmanship.
Participating organizations: The Good Shepherd, Crystal Care Ashland, St. Martin House, Mill Run Senior Apartments, Loudonville Golden Center, Lutheran Village, City of Ashland Employees, Ashland County Law Enforcement, Ashland Fire Department, AU GIVES (Ashland University student group), Hayesville Methodist Church, Loudonville St. Peter Church, Loudonville New Hope Church, St. Edward’s Women’s Group, Ashland First Church of the Brethren, Ashland Dickey Church, Faith Church, University Hospitals Stroke Unit and Ashland County Council on Aging.
Participating school districts: Ashland, Loudonville-Perrysville and Hillsdale.
Part of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
