Christmas calling

It's the time of year when we want to be close to family and friends but often relatives are scattered across the country and making a connection by phone can be costly especially for senior citizens

Saturday, December 18th 2004, 6:24 pm

By: News On 6

It's the time of year when we want to be close to family and friends but often relatives are scattered across the country and making a connection by phone can be costly especially for senior citizens living on a fixed income.

There is a program that helps put area seniors in touch with loved ones for free.

Every year around this time an office in the Bartlesville Conoco-Phillips building starts looking a bit like Santa's Workshop. Only these elves aren't making toys they're making long distance calls.

About 50 volunteers work in shifts all weekend long to help seniors and company retirees place calls to anywhere in the U-S and Canada at no cost.

For seniors like Bill Shoef-stall the program is a welcome gift.

BILL: "A lot of people don't have the money to do it and this gives em a chance to go ahead and talk to friends and relatives... in-laws and out laws... ha, ha.â€

The program runs until 10 o'clock tonight and from 8 am to 10pm again tomorrow.
It's available to seniors in the Bartlesville, Ponca City, Copan and Dewey phone exchanges.
Seniors can get connected by calling 6-6-1, 66-66. Have ready the city and number you wish to call and they'll connect you.