‘There’s nothing like a phone call,’ says Red Cross volunteer who provides emotional support through Friendly Calls program

Christine McLean is a local Nova Scotian and has been volunteeringfor two years, a Red Cross program that provides people with emotional support and a listening ear. Callers over the age of 18 are paired with a trained volunteer who provides regular check-ins over the phone. The program was created to help those facing social isolation.McLean feels it’s important to share the difference that Friendly Calls has made in the community.

On top of volunteering, she’s been a journalist most of her life, and now runs her own television production company. It was journalism that inspired her urge to give back to the community. She would often report on issues with our society, so wanted to be a part of the solution. “We all got a taste of what that’s like during the pandemic. I thought I would be a good fit for the program, because I know that it’s very painful.”Lack of human contact is bad for your health.by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that it can lead to a cognitive decline and increase the risk of premature death. That’s why the program is available Canada-wide and rapidly growing in Nova Scotia. There are currently 80 active volunteers with Friendly Calls in the province.

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