Big-hearted students have reached out the hand of friendship to elderly people in a Donegal nursing home in a bid to help them get through Covid.
Students at Raphoe Royal and Prior wanted to give something back to society.
And when teacher Orlaith Trearty came up with the idea of a massive pen pal exercise, it seemed like the perfect fit.
Ms Trearty got in touch with the Director of Nursing at the Brentwood Manor Nursing Home in Convoy and he thought it was a great idea.
Using free postage announced by An Post to all nursing homes across the country, Transition Year students have each been given a pen pal at the home.
Ms Trearty explained “Each Transition year student was then given a resident based on similar interests they both may have had. This was done in order to make the letters more personal for the residents.
“Last week 53 Halloween letters were sent off to the nursing home and today the students received some of the residents’ responses.”
It is hoped that this will continue on for Christmas and Easter.
And if Covid subsides and government rules allow, the students will go out to the nursing home in Spring-time so they can meet their pen pal and the residents can see who they have been writing too.
Mr Trearty added “The students absolutely loved the opportunity to take part in this. It is great seeing them giving something back and reaching out to a different generation.
“I’m sure it was also great for the residents to receive these letters and for them to get a taste of what young people are thinking.”
