United Way of Erie teaching students importance of 211 line ahead of holiday
211 Is a free, confidential referral line that connects people to area resources. United Way officials called it the social services equivalent of 911.
Asbury Woods releasing new exhibit on PA native species
If someone is not in an emergency situation but needs help finding community agencies to support their basic needs, 211 can help. It's a one-stop call with an organized directory of resources that are locally available
'So it can really range from anything, If someone maybe has a family member struggling with addiction, or if your family needs additional resources if you're having trouble paying your bills, or getting food on the table,' said Mike Jaruszewicz, executive vice president of United Way of Erie County.
UPMC Hamot hosting Wear Red Heart Health Expo this Friday
You call or text 2-1-1, and you'll find a trained professional on the line 24/7, 365 days a year to help.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
R.I. homelessness is down, but more people are out in the cold? New data says it's true.
Someone with no other place to go sleeps in front of a closed restaurant on Broadway in Newport at 9:30 a.m. on May 2, 2025. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current) For the first time in half a dozen years, the number of unhoused people in Rhode Island is on the decline. But the good news comes with a caveat: More people were without shelter when volunteers from the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness conducted its annual winter census for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development all across the state on a frigid night in January. Among the people who were either in a shelter or on the street counted on the night of Jan. 21, 2025, over 40% had been unhoused for more than a year, according to data released Thursday. The results of the 2025 Point in Time count were presented to the board of directors for the Rhode Island Continuum of Care — the collection of state departments and nonprofit organizations that manage the state's homelessness response — during its monthly meeting at the United Way of Rhode Island. At least 2,373 unhoused individuals were counted across the state on that Tuesday night in January when the temperature hovered around 18 degrees in Providence. The number of individuals is down 2.8% from the record high of 2,442 counted in 2024, marking the first decrease since 2019. 'Although an overall decrease seems really exciting, it's the result of fewer emergency shelter beds being online,' Kimberly Simmons, the coalition's executive director, told the 12 board members present. According to Simmons' presentation, there were 1,826 shelter beds available in January 2025 — representing a decrease of 71 spots compared to the previous year. As the number of beds dropped, the number of unsheltered Rhode Islanders rose over 15%. Overall, the coalition counted 618 people whose primary residence is a car, tent, abandoned building, or other outdoor space. Last year that number was 534. Around 66% of unsheltered people were considered 'chronically homeless,' meaning they were unhoused for more than a year and have a substance or mental health disorder. Overall, 1,022 of those surveyed by the coalition were deemed chronically homeless. The increase in chronic homelessness was the result of longer lengths of stay in motels and other shelter space made available by the state. Advocates and lawmakers had pushed Gov. Dan McKee to call for a state of emergency over the winter to try and open up more shelter beds, with a particular focus on expediting the opening of ECHO Village — the community of 45 pallet shelters off Route 146 in Providence. ECHO Village opened on Feb. 11, after sitting empty for a year as officials struggled to figure out how the cabins fit into the state's fire and building codes, which had no category for the shelters. But McKee resisted the calls to rush the village's opening, contending that an emergency declaration would not yield any federal funds toward the issue and could create potential problems should regulations be relaxed. 'If it had been open in the beginning of the year, more individuals could have been served,' Simmons said in an interview after the board meeting.. And while the total number of unhoused individuals was down from the prior year, Simmons told Rhode Island Current that the census likely undercounted, as there are many people who are couch surfing or have been forced to double up with relatives or friends. There were some positives from this year's census. The number of families who are unhoused decreased by 1.1% — with no unsheltered families counted. Transitional housing increased by three beds and the state saw an additional 37 permanent supportive housing units go up. Simmons said she is concerned that the state's homeless population could skyrocket in the future as the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans cut funding for social programs. 'We're still in the hole,' she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hamilton Spectator
09-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
'I knew I wanted to volunteer': Diane Marshall hailed ‘selfless' and ‘compassionate'
Diane Marshall is well known around the local community of Sault Ste. Marie. She's involved in organizations including, the Canadian Cancer Society, the United way, the Council for Exceptional Children and the Sault Area Hospital board of directors, to name a few. Volunteering for the Rotary Club, she once travelled to India at her own expense to participate in a polio eradication and immunization program. Marshall is recognized as a local hometown champion, specifically highlighting her work with the Christmas Cheer drive as convenor. The program, funded by the Sault Star Santa Fund, has been active since the 1960's and helped over 2,000 families in 2024 alone. Her involvement began shortly after retiring as a school educator in 1997; Marshall has spearheaded this group for over 20 years. Leading by example, her experience in education has left nothing short of her accomplishments. 'I knew I wanted to volunteer and was always appreciative of what Christmas Cheer did. We have a number of dedicated people who come in and work putting the packages together and do their very best to give the children gifts that they request,' Marshall said. Marshall described being involved as an 'exciting' opportunity to make families in the community have a better Christmas. She credits the community's importance for helping make it all happen. 'Between the people that work in their offices, to the people that give gifts, to the people that work at the depots and deliver the gifts and the staff,' she said. A long list of involved staff and volunteers around the community that make the drive go as smoothly as possible. She said no matter what field of work you're from most organizations could not exist without volunteer work. 'They make it possible,' she said. Although there isn't an exact number of items or money that's donated, Marshall estimates between $125,000 and $150,000 is spent every year on the drive. 'That could not happen without the generosity of the community,' she said. Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker described Diane Marshall as 'selfless' and 'compassionate'. 'Her longstanding volunteerism speaks to the best qualities of Sault Ste. Marie,' he said. 'Volunteers like Diane are so vital; they help fill these gaps with compassion and a deep understanding of their community. She was an incredibly deserving recipient of the City's highest honor, the Medal of Merit,' Shoemaker said. An honor she received in 2006, Marshall was also recognized with the Governor General of Canada Sovereign Medal for Volunteers in 2012. One of only 61 total recipients of the award. Christmas Cheer is the most recognized holiday drive in Sault Ste. Marie and draws attention from other cities in Ontario. 'I believe it shows that our community is a very carrying one and wants to help make a difference for people in need,' she said. 'You would be hard pressed to find someone with her experience, expertise and compassion to lead the local Christmas Cheer Drive year-after-year. She has helped thousands of families enjoy a memorable and happy holiday season, and I am so grateful that she continues to step up and dedicate herself to such a worthwhile cause,' Shoemaker said. Through all her work not only with the Christmas Cheer but in other volunteer organizations, Marshall keeps the same motivation for everything she does in the community. 'Because of the people that work in it and help the people who might be having difficulties. It's a joy we all have the same focus and same reasons for wanting to help,' she said. Marshall said she is confident that the impact Christmas Cheer makes and the importance to everyone involved that it's here to stay. 'It's been proven over the years that there's always a need to help other people, and if we can help even a small bit, our job is worthwhile,' she said. Marshall gives credit to the Sault Star Fund for the financials and didn't underestimate how important the organization is to Christmas Cheer. 'Without the Sault Star Fund and the money they give, I'm not sure how we can operate. The Sault Star is a very respected and recognized fund. Because of that people trust in knowing how that money is being spent and where it's going. The Sault Star plays an incredible role in the Christmas Cheer program.' There is 'no question' that Diane embodies the characteristics of a 'hometown hero,' Shoemaker said. 'Her quiet leadership, tireless service, and unwavering commitment to others have made our community stronger,' he added. Through all the work she does with every program she's involved with, Diane Marshall continues to be an important community member and her defining acts of volunteer work. There's no one quite like her to have the honor of being a hometown champion. We love where we live, and throughout the summer, we are running a series of stories called How Canada Wins that highlight what makes our community unique and special within Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
Post-storm resource center open through July 2 in downtown Bemidji
Jun. 29—BEMIDJI — A post-storm resource center will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Wednesday, July 2, at the former First National Bank building, 429 Minnesota Ave. NW. The resource center, previously located at the Sanford Center, has been relocated to better assist residents impacted by the June 21 storm. The center offers the following resources: * Hot meals prepared by the Salvation Army. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and dinner is served from 4 to 6 p.m. * Cases of bottled water * Individual snack items * Pre-packaged hot meals * Cleaning supplies For those who lost food due to the storm or power outages, a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) food benefit replacement program is available. To learn more, visit the second floor of Beltrami County Health and Human Services at 616 America Ave. NW or call (218) 333-8300. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, July 1. The resource center is supported by Beltrami County Public Health, the United Way of the Bemidji Area, American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Community Resource Connections, the Bemidji Fire Department, as well as local and community donors.
