Homeless get a chance to phone home

Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999 | 9:31 a.m.

Some homeless families will have the opportunity this Thanksgiving to call relatives and loved ones living out-of-state.

For the second straight year MGC Communications will be offering free long-distance calls to the homeless men and women at St. Vincent' Shelter at 1501 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

From 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday callers will be given 15 minutes to call family members anywhere in the country.

"We're basically going to install telephone lines and telephone equipment (at the shelter)," Jeff Hein, spokesman for MGC Communication's Inc., said.

"We did it last year. It worked real well," he added. "During the holidays it's hard to be away from your families, and a lot of these people probably couldn't afford a telephone call."

Last year 700 people took advantage of the service over a three-day period, Frank Richo, director of residential services division for Catholic Charities, said. Some made calls to loved ones with whom they hadn't spoke in five years, he added.

"Any time you can establish a lifeline to loved ones -- sometimes that's the first step back," Richo said.