Easterseals PORT Health welcomes the opportunity to shine a light on a volunteer-led initiative at one of our group homes in Charlotte, NC. The home has a highly engaged community dedicated to enriching the lives of the residents through a variety of activities, from engaging day programs to lively weekend events.
Ben Pals in action
One initiative, called “Ben Pals,” truly captures the essence of connection with others. Olivia, one of the devoted volunteers, created Ben Pals in honor of her nephew, Ben, who lives at the group home.
The need for meaningful human connection is critical for people with disabilities, who often face higher barriers to social participation. Data from the National Survey on Health and Disability shows a troubling rise in loneliness with the percentage of disabled adults who report feeling very lonely increasing from 65% in early 2020 to 68% in late 2023. This growing feeling of isolation highlights how essential supportive relationships and community engagement are for overall mental and emotional well-being.
“The initiative aims to foster friendships between caring volunteers and group home residents through the timeless act of letter writing,” Olivia explained. “Each month, volunteers send a letter, card or other correspondence to their Ben Pal. It is entirely up to the residents when and whether they want to respond.”
Olivia recalls a heartwarming moment with David, a resident who expressed a desire to see the movie “Michael” in one of his letters. “This small wish led to a meaningful conversation between David and his caregiver,” shared Olivia. “The result? An exciting movie outing for the group home residents! The impact of the letters goes beyond just providing joy; they serve as a bridge to real-life conversations and experiences.”
Other special moments from the letter exchanges include how happy residents feel when they receive a letter. Olivia often sees smiles, laughter, excitement and even dancing when letters are delivered. The impact of Ben Pals is best expressed in the residents’ own words. One wrote, “Thank you for sending me my first real letter. That feels great!” Another said, “Thank you for the crossword puzzle. You gave me the best surprise letter and made my day brighter.”
Currently, Ben Pals is only open to Olivia’s family members, friends and close neighbors. This ensures that all letters remain appropriate and are sent by those who truly have the residents’ best interests at heart.
Thank you, Olivia, and everyone involved in making Ben Pals a sense of connection. Because of your dedication, friendships are blossoming and new connections are forming—one letter at a time. To learn more about our group homes, visit eastersealsport.com/homes.
ABOUT US
Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing exceptional disability, mental health and substance use services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Purpose, dedication and empathy drive our in-person and telehealth service delivery. Our diverse and inclusive 2,800 member team provides more than 10.2 million hours of meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com.
