Over the last fifteen years, USPS—a pillar of transportation and community connection—has been finding increasing difficulty in maintaining its status as a self-funding agency, a status necessary for its survival. This bedrock agency of the American system stretches through history back to the inception of the nation and is charged with connecting communities, whether there be snow, rain, or __ obstacle in the way; now, revenue and a lack of service usage are what block the path of promised delivery.

Pen paling has been used as a mechanism to create lasting friendships, build literacy skills, and engage with the mailing system. By implementing a domestic community outreach program with USPS in the form of pen pals, we create a lasting friendship between each worker in the postal community, the letter we entrust them to deliver, and the citizen at home.