The Dunlaps, of Cassopolis, have been volunteering with the Cass County COA’s pen pal program for the past three years. As part of the pen pal program, the Dunlaps and other volunteers correspond through letters with fifth-graders from Cassopolis and Dowagiac schools. Sue answered the questions for the volunteer of the week spotlight.

 

Q: How did you get involved with the pen pal program?

There was another person we knew that was a pen pal and that got us interested. We went to an informational meeting and went on from there.

Q: What have you enjoyed about participating in the program?

It has been very interesting.

You get to relive your own childhood in some ways, like remembering what it was like when you are getting close to a holiday. You ask them what they are going to dress up as for Halloween and so forth. You give them open-ended questions and they are supposed to give you questions back. It is all part of their education in writing letters and learning to ask and answer questions.

It is also fun to meet the person you are corresponding with at end of the program. The students come from the schools and they are paired up with their pen pal. You don’t meet your student until May at the lunch. There are also activities that allow for participation like putting a golf ball or throwing a Frisbee into a container, things like that.

Q: Why do you choose to volunteer with this program?

It is about impacting a young person’s life.

It is fun and you are always surprised by what the students might ask or say. By giving them open ended questions it gets them thinking out of the box a little bit. And writing is an old fashioned form of communicating, so it helps them with that.

It also connects you to the community in ways you wouldn’t have that connection.

 

For more information about the Cass County COA and its many programs, call the COA at (269) 445-8110 or visit the organization’s website at casscoa.org. The Cass County COA is located at 60525 Decatur Road in Cassopolis.

 

Do you know a volunteer worthy of recognition? Nominate him or her as the Volunteer of the Week by calling Craig Haupert, community editor, at (269) 687-7720, or emailing him at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.