Every letter tells a student
they matter.
Be a Pen Pal!
💌 Make a Difference—One Letter at a Time
Do you remember the excitement of opening a letter addressed just to you? Now imagine giving that same joy to a local 3rd or 4th grader—while helping them grow in confidence, literacy, and connection.
United Way of Wapello County is proud to offer this simple but powerful opportunity through our AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program. And while it’s a perfect fit for volunteers age 55+, everyone can be part of the magic—middle school and high school classrooms, college students, work teams, sports teams, faith groups, and community organizations are all welcome.
How It Works
Our Pen Pal Program pairs volunteers with 3rd and 4th-grade students in Ottumwa, Fairfield, and Pekin for a fun, easy exchange of letters throughout the school year.
You can handwrite your letters for that extra personal touch—or you can email them to us if that’s easier for you. Either way, your words will reach your Pen Pal and brighten their day.
No teaching experience is needed—just a kind heart, a pen or keyboard, and a few minutes to write.
Through Just a Few Letters, You’ll Help:
Build Literacy & Communication Skills – Your words help students grow as readers and writers.
Foster Connection – Bridge generations, inspire curiosity, and show kids they matter.
Encourage Kindness & Confidence – A little encouragement can go a long way in a child’s life.
Why We Need You Now
Eisenhower Elementary is adding two new 3rd-grade classrooms for the 2025–2026 school year, which means we need twice as many volunteers to ensure every student gets the one-on-one connection they deserve.
Perfect for Individuals & Groups
Students – A fun work-based learning project or service opportunity.
Teams & Businesses – A low-commitment, high-impact team-building activity.
Classrooms – A creative writing project with real-world purpose.
Faith & Civic Groups – An easy way to spread kindness and connection.
💌 Let’s make sure every student knows they matter—one letter at a time.
📩 Sign up today to be a Pen Pal!
Write. Connect. Inspire.
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Our Pen Pal Program pairs volunteers with 3rd and 4th-grade students in around Ottumwa, Fairfield, and Pekin for a fun, simple exchange of handwritten letters during the school year.
Through just a few letters, you’ll help:
Build literacy and communication skills
Foster intergenerational (or peer-to-peer!) connection
Encourage kindness, curiosity, and encouragement
No teaching experience needed—just a kind heart, a pen, and a few minutes to write.
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Eisenhower Elementary is adding two new 3rd-grade classrooms for the 2025–2026 school year, and we need twice as many volunteers to give every student the one-on-one connection they deserve.
This is an excellent work-based learning project for students or team-building activity for adults. We’ve even seen it used as a fun classroom writing initiative or group service project!
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Because a letter that isn’t a bill is something to celebrate—for both of you!
It’s flexible – write at your own pace throughout the year
It’s rewarding – your words make a difference
It’s fun – many of our Pen Pals say they love receiving their student’s letters just as much as writing them!
At the end of the program, you’ll get a chance to meet your Pen Pal in person and celebrate the connection you’ve built.
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It’s as easy as:
Sign up and fill out a short profile
Get matched with a student
Write and receive letters throughout the school year
Celebrate with an end-of-year meet-up!
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If you're interested in volunteering or want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you:
