Homeless people in Roanoke make free phone calls

Homeless people in our community get a chance to make free long distance phone calls.

US Cellular brought cell phones to Roanoke’s Trust House.  For two hours Thursday night, people staying at the house could use the phones to call family and friends.

Ed McVey is an Army vet who is staying at Trust House.  McVey says he relies on calling cards to keep in touch with his son in West Virginia and sister in California.  That’s expensive but he still tries to call often.

“I’m an alcoholic.  So if I don’t stay in touch regularly, they automatically think the worst, that I’m back drinking and everything.  I like to stay in touch just about every week so they don’t have to worry about me.“, says McVey.

In September, US Cellular partnered with Roanoke Mayor David Bowers and the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Advisory Council on Homelessness to present $25,000 to Trust House.

The staff at Trust House works to teach the people staying there life skills.  The goal is to help them find permanent homes. 

This is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.