Even though there’s an age gap of over 73-years, pen pals Eva, 14, and Mary, 86, have the most unusual relationship and have been keeping each other company during the Coronavirus lockdown by becoming pen pals. The two-some have been writing to one another since April and have exchanged several letters between them.
Meeting via a volunteering scheme launched by Brunelcare to help tackle loneliness during the Coronavirus; Eva sent a letter addressed to any tenant who lived at Brunelcare’s Colliers Gardens Extra Care Housing Site in the hope someone would like to write back, a couple of weeks later, Eva received her first letter from Mary, a tenant at the site.
Eva said:
“When I first wrote to Colliers
Gardens I didn’t know if I would get a reply. A few weeks later, I had a letter from Mary. I was so thrilled! Mary and I talk about everything from arts and crafts, to the weather to what we’ve been up to at the weekend. There’s nothing I like more than receiving a letter from Mary in the post. Writing and receiving letters is very exciting and it’s definitely a lost art form.”
Mary said:
“You’re never too old to make friends. Me and my pen pal Eva have found out that we have a lot in common, we both love arts and crafts! I’ve been telling her all about when I was a volunteer, and my daughter and son-in-law who both volunteer where I live. I always look forward to receiving her letters, and I can’t wait to finally meet her after lockdown. I think this is going to be a friend for life.”
Julie Walker, Extra Care Housing Manager said:
“Mary and Eva have formed a friendship-for-life through the Brunelcare pen pal scheme. The pair have been keeping in touch over the past three months and it’s just fantastic to deliver Mary her letters from Eva when they arrive in the post. It’s great we are able to make such a difference. We will love to welcome Eva and her Mother Polly into Colliers Gardens to meet with Mary once it’s safe to do so.”
