A small mailbox in our Clubhouse has become one of the most magical spots in the building for our youth. The excitement of checking for mail never gets old!

When one young boy recently opened it to find it empty, we gently reminded him: to get mail, you have to send mail. He sat down on the spot and wrote a letter. Soon, mail from Gina was waiting for him in return, complete with a joke inside. He wrote back with a joke of his own, grinning the whole way through. Meanwhile, a young girl approached the mailbox and paused: she read her own name on an envelope! She opened her letter, sat down, and wrote one to a peer, carefully following the format she had learned: To, From, Message.

What looks like a simple, joyful tradition is also something more: literacy skills growing in real time, life skills taking root, and children learning that their words and their voices matter.

Idaho Gives is May 4 - May 7! When you invest in Friends – Eastern Idaho, you're helping to create a place where kids feel seen, valued, and inspired to grow for years to come. Our goal is to raise $100,000 to help expand our program to 16 more children. Thanks to a generous $50,000 match from Craig and Mariya Yadon of The Purpose Center, that goal is within reach!