Frequently Asked Questions for Fall 2022
What is OSU Pen Pals?
PenPALS is a service organization that matches OSU students with 3rd-6th graders in the Columbus City School District to write letters with biweekly throughout the year.
Why should I join OSU Pen Pals?
We get to promote childhood literacy through an exciting pen pal relationship that the children can look forward to and use to practice their reading and writing skills.
- Low time commitment, but big impact!
- Attend seminars where we make care packages, crafts, and more!
- Fun end of year event where you meet your buddy on campus and play games!
What if I forget to write?
- If you do not write for the week, you will receive a strike
- “Half-strikes:” if mentors emailed us a letter — but do your absolute best to get the full journal in on time!!
- If you receive two strikes, you will be removed from our program, and your pen pal will be re-assigned to someone on our Wait List
- As per the Pen PALS agreement, reach out ahead of time if anything comes up – communicate with us & we can find solutions!
When will writing weeks start?
Our first writing week will begin on September 22 and end on Thursday September 28 at 5p.m.
Are there any club dues?
This semester, we will have a $5 due.
Why are we charging dues?
- Helps us to create fun and engaging programming for you all
- Provides us with funding for the EOYE
- Supports us in the purchase of hard copy journals
As an organization, we firmly believe that all students who wish to participate in Pen PALS should be able to participate (regardless of their ability to pay.) If paying dues is going to cause you undue financial stress, please reach out to us at penpalsosu@gmail.com to let us know. We’re also happy to connect you with on and off-campus resources to support you–the ACES food pantry and emergency grants, for example.
Will there be seminars this semester?
Yes! More information will be sent in emails and GroupMe.
Any further questions can be answered via penpalsosu@gmail.com.