825‑0860 is the number of the new Hotline phone service. It operates seven days a week from 2 p.m. through 2 a.m. to help persons with emotional or medical problems. The service is primarily to aid persons with problems relating to drug abuse.

Together the Des Plaines and Park Ridge Coordinating Councils on Youth Problems brought this service into existence a few weeks ago from an undisclosed area somewhere in Park Ridge.

The 50 volunteers who answer the telephones on a shift basis are trained to handle emergency calls relating to different problem areas.

The backgrounds of the volunteers are as varied, as are their ages, but each was chosen because of maturity, emotional stability, and experience. The one common thing that these volunteers all have in common is "they all care."

Mr. Eldon Burk, co‑chairman of the Hotline steering committee, explained, "The Hotline will provide a crisis contact for students and young people with immediate problems and will refer them to a service which can help them with that problem."

A prominent Des Plaines resident donated office space in Park Ridge free of charge, while the Des Plaines and Park Ridge Kiwanis Clubs will pick up the tab for the phone bills. The Des Plaines Jaycees also contributed funds to help pay for the phone service.

Mr. Burk also said that the major problem regarding the Hotline is there is no one to organize and supervise the service. He hopes the Mental Health Association will sponsor the Hotline in the near future.

Volunteers are needed badly to answer phones during the evening hours. Volunteers have to be trained to work with the people that call and handle themselves in all situations.

The Hotline began October 23.

Its success depends on the volunteers and the sponsors. This must be solved soon so that things will be on the way toward success.