Phone calls bring joy.

Librarian Holly Ryckman smiles as she chats with 81-year-old Dell Kaplan from the Davis Library in Plano. (AP)
Dell Kaplan, 81, talks on the phone while outside her home. She enjoys chatting on the phone with people while she's home alone. (AP)
This calling program helps older adults talk with others. Ryckman said the calls have been "a gift" for her. (AP)
"It gets pretty lonely here by yourself," said Kaplan. She misses family get-togethers and classes during the pandemic. (AP)
Librarian Holly Ryckman enjoys making other people's lives less lonely while they're stuck at home. (AP)

THIS JUST IN

You have {{ remainingArticles }} free {{ counterWords }} remaining.

The bad news: You've hit your limit of free articles.
The good news: You can receive full access below.
God's Big WORLD | Ages 3-6 | $35.88 per year

Already a member? Sign in.

These two ladies are new friends. They met with a phone call.

Dell Kaplan must stay home. She gets lonely. Then Holly Ryckman calls her. They chit-chat. The phone calls make both ladies smile.

READ MORE: Everyone needs a friend to talk to. Some older adults are lonely. They can’t go out like they used to. A phone call cheers them up. Volunteers make the calls. They don’t want anyone to be lonely. What do they talk about? Everything! People talk about their hobbies. They talk about vacations and happy memories. “I get off the phone with a smile,” says one volunteer. Psalm 94:19 says, “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”