Ever since she was in the fourth grade, Rosie Paulik of Anderson Township, Ohio, has received a daily handwritten letter from her dad, Buz Ecker. When she became a mother herself, those letters started including her young son, Jackson. Recently, Paulik realized that others might appreciate her father’s heartfelt words, so she offered up his letter-writing services on social media to anyone in need of some fatherly encouragement.
The response was overwhelming, with more than 1,000 requests pouring in. While spending his summer in Michigan, Ecker has already written over 150 letters and has enlisted other dads to help meet the demand. He writes conversationally, offering support to people whose fathers have passed away, giving advice on parenting or homeownership, and often including uplifting personal stories.
Paulik notes that the people reaching out mostly just want to hear from a father figure, while Ecker says handwritten letters show extra care and love in a digital age. Each one ends with the same message: “I love you. Dad.”
Anyone interested in receiving a letter or volunteering as a writing dad can visit DadLetterProject.com.
Source: WCPO