MAKING CONNECTIONS

Being home alone after school can be tough for kids, bringing on feelings of loneliness, boredom and anxiety. But there is a friendly voice out there, willing to offer comfort to latchkey children.

Volunteers can help with homework, read short stories and offer jokes, all for free. From 3 to 5 p.m. weekdays, kids can talk to someone at Glendale Adventist Medical Center’s PhoneFriend by calling (818) 241-KIDS.

In the Antelope Valley, Lancaster United Methodist Church offers a PhoneFriend service from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at (805) 949-8662.