I doubt that you can imagine the pleasure that a letter or card in the mail gives a Nursing Home resident. And if the letter comes from a pen-pal around the Holidays, so much the better. Amy Ready was a busy mother who wanted to do something useful, and that would fit into her day-to-day schedule. She came up with the idea of 'Nursing Home Pen-Pals'. Here's her story. [Robert Griffith, editor]

In June of 2002 I started thinking of volunteering. I wanted to help out the community, but with my 1½ year old, time is of the essence. Who would take a volunteer that couldn't really work that often and had to bring a little one along? I realized taking her along with me to a nursing home might be a start. So we got in the car and headed off to the nursing home closest to our house. After talking to the Activities Director, we walked around meeting people that didn't get many visitors. I met a lady named "Tina," and decided to make her my pen pal.

Since I couldn't always go there with my daughter in tow, I decided writing a letter might brighten her day as well. I could write to her during my daughter's nap, or after she is in bed! This kind of volunteering was something that fit my schedule just right!

This is where "A Friendly Word" began. I wrote a simple letter to "Tina." Her enthusiasm for getting my letter was so great that I decided I couldn't stop there - I had to bring more happiness to those who don't often have it. Thinking that others might enjoy this activity as well, I began recruiting volunteers and pairing them up with nursing home residents. "A Friendly Word" was born.

I started by calling and writing other nursing and veterans' homes to see if they would be interested in a pen pal program with our organization. The response has been wonderful!

What began with just one nursing home has turned into an international project! Since August "A Friendly Word" has been matching pen pals up, we have provided smiles to many nursing home residents!

I have made it a personal goal to bring a little joy to those that don't always have it!

Amy Ready

If you'd like to become someone's pen-pal, click on the website "A Friendly Word" at: http://www.afriendlyword.com . Then click on 'Become a Volunteer' in the left column, and you'll find out just how the system works.
Or you can e-mail Amy at amy@afriendlyword.com .