Legacy Reserve seniors and students become pen pals

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) —  A fifth grade class at Clays Mill Elementary School has partnered up with a retirement community to form pen pals.

The students are learning to write cursive so the letters have to be written completely in cursive.

Legacy Reserve at Fritz Farm says it was eager to take on the little project.

“It not only engages the children in the class but also it engages us older folks who have a life to share,” says resident Mary Jane Eddie. “So it’s kind of fun.”

The response has been overwhelming.

“Residents were coming to us left and right saying ‘I want to write a letter.’ We’ve even had other residents approach us saying ‘Where’s my letter?’. So they’ve enjoyed it a lot and it’s been a lot of fun to see,” says marketing director for Legacy Reserve, Jacqueline Kennedy. “Very heartwarming.”

Ironic enough, resident Mary Jane used to teach the fifth grade.

“Well I think it’s important because how are they gonna sign their checks later on if they don’t know cursive,” says Mary Jane.

Kennedy says residents were more than eager to take this pen pal program on.

“Our residents grew up in a generation where they loved to write letters I mean that was their form of communication,” says Kennedy. “And I think that’s a lost form, a lost art of communication.”

Mary Jane says it makes her feel so wonderful being apart of this.

“I get to share with a young person the experiences I have had in my life and I like sharing those kinds of things, makes me feel good.”

She says she’s looking forward to getting to know her little pen pal and sharing more stories with her.