By Danielle Ray
Landmark correspondent
HOLDEN — Dozens of town seniors and third-graders met face-to-face on May 31, a continuation of the Pen Pal program that has been going on for more than 30 years.
The Pen Pal Meet and Greet was held at the 1130 Main St. senior center for the first time since the COVID pandemic. The event, which brought together far different generations, was organized by Lisa DeCiero, program coordinator for the Holden Senior Center.
Each of the 73 students in the four third-grade classrooms at Mayo Elementary School was paired with a senior for the entire school year, a tradition three decades old. Topics of the three letters written over the course of this school year included “All About Me – What Makes Me Special,” “Favorite Book or Story,” and “School Memory.”
The meet and greet was the culmination of this year’s program and was filled with smiles from children and seniors alike. The students and seniors paired up with their Pen Pals and enjoyed conversing, sharing stories, and playing games. Before the students left after the hourlong event, they sang “Here Comes the Sun” to the seniors — the perfect ending to the wonderful gathering.
DeCiero said they encourage seniors “who would like to be part of the program and the commitment it involves” to contact the Holden Senior Center at 508-210-5574 for more information.
