Melville teen helps people through pen pal exchange program

A Melville teen is helping people who are suffering with medical conditions, emotional stress, or cognitive social emotional challenges by forming friendships through a pen pal exchange program.

News 12 Staff

Apr 29, 2021, 3:53 AM

Updated 1,324 days ago

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A Melville teen is helping people who are suffering with medical conditions, emotional stress, or cognitive social emotional challenges by forming friendships through a pen pal exchange program.
Abigail Zaroff says the program works through Bake Back America. Recipients are found through fundraising, reaching out, and social media. Once recipients are found they are set up with volunteers.
Zoom calls are then set up and the participants play games, color and read books.
Zaroff says she came up with the idea to do this because her sister went through two brain surgeries and needed help getting through the tough time.
Zaroff says she texts her recipients daily. They wish each other happy birthday and happy holidays. She says it's more than volunteering because you really make friendships.
She says sometimes a simple conversation can put a smile on someone's face.