Recipe for connection
Students and seniors connect through handwritten notes, shared recipes and meaningful stories in a new intergenerational pen pal program.
A pen pal program was launched in February between members of the Willoughby South High School Key Club and members of the Willoughby Senior Center.
Opening an envelope with a handwritten letter meant for you has become a nostalgic lost art in our modern age of digital interaction and isolation. When the letter connects the generations through a pen pal program—it’s all the more special.
That was the thinking of Jessica Sinkovic from Willoughby South High School and Val Pawlowski and Melissa Shirley, activities coordinators from the Willoughby Senior Center, when they launched a pen pal program last month between members of the WSHS Key Club and members of the senior center.
“Fifteen students were thrilled to receive their first batch of letters,” says Jessica, who is an intervention specialist and Key Club advisor. “The theme was to share a recipe that was meaningful to you. We were pleasantly surprised at how heartwarming the letters were, sharing personal stories behind the recipes.”
Val and Melissa report they have been building intergenerational programing with the schools, since they both have had experience with other communities creating the programs.
The ladies are hoping to throw an ice cream social the end of the school year for the pals to meet in person. And plans are already underway to bolster the program in the 2026-27 school year. Since the senior center is located on the same campus grounds as the high school, collaboration is a beneficial byproduct.
“We hope both the senders and recipients of pen pal letters enjoy an enriching experience of companionship,” says Jessica.
Jackson Hay, who is president of the Key Club, says he’s enjoyed learning from a senior and hearing stories, as well as trying some fun recipes.
And Nancy Wallace, who belongs to the senior center, says, “I think it is good for the younger generation to hear from us to get a better understanding of the history of our lives.”
Throughout the year, Key Club also partners with the City of Willoughby, the Red Cross, Willoughby Eastlake Library and volunteering to help the PTAs at the elementary schools with their afterschool programming.
Look for these monthly stories to cover topics from grades K-12 in the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools system. For details, visit WESchools.org.
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