Volunteers are needed for the Friendly Calls program that assists those who are isolated or alone due to the pandemic.
“In periods like right now with the Omicron variant, people are afraid to leave the house or travel. A lot of people have not been able to visit with family or friends or neighbours,” said Diane Tate, community health coordinator with the Canadian Red Cross.
“This program really helps address some of those feelings by providing people with a little bit of connection and companionship in a phone-based way, which is safe. They don’t have to worry about masking or seeing people in person.”
Volunteers are paired up for an hour-long phone chat each week for at least six months.
“We look for volunteers that can engage and ask questions in a certain way, so the person can feel good about receiving those calls,” Tate says.
“In Canada, we have logged over 30,000 calls involving over 500 volunteers and over 3,000 participants.”
Volunteers receive full training prior to their pairing.
According to the Red Cross, “Isolation and loneliness can take a significant toll on your physical and mental wellbeing and can cause issues like memory lapse, increased anxiety, and hopelessness.”
