Pen Pal Program

**The Pen Pal program volunteer application is temporarily paused
but will open again in the near future.**

Build a stronger community through our Pen Pal Program

The Kids ‘n Kinship Pen Pal Program is an initiative to support the children in our program who are currently waiting for a mentor. This Pen Pal Program is ideal for 18+ year old volunteers who:

  • Wish to support children in a unique way, to reduce youths feelings of isolation and loneliness
  • May not meet the minimum age requirement to be a mentor
    (We ask for community mentors to be 21+)
  • May not be able to make the time commitment it takes to be a mentor in the program

**The Pen Pal program volunteer application is temporarily paused
but will open again in the near future.**

No need to live locally, we have Pen Pals from all over the US!

Pen Pal Program

Pen Pal volunteer responsibilities include:

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Writing a letter to your assigned Kids ‘n Kinship waitlist child at least once per month

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Respond to the child in a timely manner

Pen Pal volunteer qualities include:

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Volunteer must be patient, take the lead in initiating ongoing contact
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Volunteer must have the ability to manage time efficiently to respond in a timely, consistent, and reliable manner to the child you are paired with

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Volunteer must practice confidentiality policies to keep the privacy of the child a priority

Pen Pal Time Commitment

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Approximately 1 hour/month or bi-weekly contact in an effort to establish and maintain a positive relationship with the child you have been paired with.

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We would ask that Pen Pals sign up for a 6 month – 1 year timeframe. Pen Pals are assigned with one youth, or if the youth is subsequently matched with a mentor, then getting assigned a new youth on the waitlist.

Resources provided by Kids ‘n Kinship

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Each month pen pal pairs are sent: Stamps, envelopes, topics & seasonal prompts to write and reflect on.

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Training, support, and access to a Kids n Kinship coordinator to best support the youth they are paired with.