HERE TO SERVE: Students serve as 'Pennpals' to youth

PENNpals volunteers devote themselves to providing a steady and reassuring presence in the lives of West Philadelphia children. Each week, the University students spend three hours with their PENNpals. Most volunteers take care of one child, though some are assigned more than one sibling. The children range in age from six to 12 years old and are second- through sixth-graders. PENNpals is intended "to help the children through one-on-one interaction with a mentor or friend," said College junior Jerry Greenberg, president of the program. Greenberg said he has worked with his PENNpal for more than two years. "We've done everything from visiting museums, [to] going to sporting events [and] playing at a playground," he said. "He loves coming here [and] visiting Penn." College junior Tina Chinakorn said the program is designed to reach out to the Philadelphia community. "[The purpose is to] be a mentor to kids in the Philadelphia area," she added. "They have a shaky family support [system]. The Penn students really fill that gap." Chinakorn said she believes the University students make a significant difference in the lives of their PENNpals. "Penn students and their PENNpals really create a special relationship," she said. "At [our] functions, you can see a lot of the Penn students hugging their PENNpals. This reflects the special relationships that arise from this program." College junior Melina Ziegel said the children take great satisfaction in spending time with the University students. "They're so happy [about] any contact," she said. Since most children participating in the PENNpals program have different backgrounds, some volunteers say working with the children makes them more aware of cultural diversity. College freshman Marla Snyder, whose PENNpal is Indonesian, said working in the program has been a learning experience. "I [find] myself lucky that I was paired with someone different from me ethnically and religiously," she said. "It allows me an opportunity to learn about other people and broaden my knowledge of other people." The students participate in a variety of activities with the children. Snyder related the time she helped dress her child for Halloween by painting his face with face paint. She also recalled helping her child with his homework and assembling a Lion King jigsaw puzzle with him. Ziegel said she likes to take her PENNpal ice skating. She also enjoys sitting in front of her child's house and talking with her PENNpal. College senior Robyn Kent said she tries to expose her child to a variety of cultural experiences. "We've gone to museums, a carnival, [and] the Franklin Institute," said Kent, who is also president of the Black Student League.

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