Five years later, friendship still delivered by Pony Express at GreenFields
Before jetting off to Italy for the World Baton Competition, sisters Ann (15) and Madeline Barr (18) of Geneva, made a special stop at GreenFields of Geneva senior living community.
There, they shared a visit with their pen pal and dear friend, 91-year-old resident Helen Meints. Helen surprised the girls with journals: one for Madeline to capture her travel memories and competition highlights, and another for Ann to record milestones of her own.
That moment marked another chapter in a friendship that has now spanned five years. It all began with the Pony Express Pen Pal Program, which GreenFields launched at the height of COVID in May 2020. What started as a temporary way to ease isolation has become a cherished connection; proof that even in uncertain times, new friendships can take root.
Back then, GreenFields’ life enrichment manager Karen Tomko was searching for creative ways to keep residents engaged while socially distant. She reached out to nearby Mill Creek families through Facebook to see if anyone wanted to exchange letters with residents.
Thirty-six families signed up immediately, and 15 more joined soon after. Karen carried the handwritten letters “Pony Express style,” delivering notes back and forth between the community and the neighborhood. The effort even caught the attention of local television news.
The Joy of the Written Word
Helen vividly remembers the thrill of her first letters from Ann and Madeline. “We still exchange letters every couple of months and get together occasionally,” she said. “I write about my family, trips I’m taking, and activities here at GreenFields. I always include a joke. They write about school and what they’re doing. Everything I write is in print, since students don’t read cursive anymore.”
Letter writing has long been part of Helen’s life. After graduating from college in 1954, she and a group of close friends began a round-robin pen pal exchange that continues to this day.
For her, the Pony Express Pen Pal Program rekindled the comfort of written words. “When I was young, we were isolated because of polio,” she recalled. “During COVID, I felt like I was sharing a little bit of history with Madeline and Ann. I understood how they were feeling.”
An Extra Grandparent
For Ann and Madeline, the letters have blossomed into something much deeper. “It’s nice that the girls get this extra grandparent in their lives,” said their mother, Jessica Barr. “It brings joy to them, to Helen, and to me as well. I love that my daughters have a friendship with someone who has so many interesting stories and such sound advice.”
Jessica added that Helen has become a role model. “If I can be like Helen at 91, still reading, traveling, writing, working out, and enjoying time with family, I’ll know I’ve lived a full life.”
What began as an exchange of notes now stands as a living reminder that some of the most meaningful connections aren’t delivered by Wi-Fi or text. They arrive the old-fashioned way: by pen, paper, and heart.
GreenFields of Geneva is a luxury senior living community providing an active retirement lifestyle in an ideal location. As a Life Plan Community, formerly known as a CCRC, GreenFields offers a complete continuum of care: independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. GreenFields of Geneva is owned by Lifespace Communities, a nonprofit organization with more than 45 years of experience in senior living. For additional information, call 630-578-7969 or visit www.GreenFieldsGeneva.org