Celebrating 211 Day: A lifeline for millions in West Virginia
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Every year, Feb. 11 is known as '211 Day' in West Virginia, which is dedicated to celebrating the 211 service and how it can connect millions of people with resources and services available in their community.
For the United Way, this day represents a day to highlight the power of this simple three-digit number that provides access to critical community services.
West Virginia Treasurer Pack seeks to establish term limits on some executive offices
211 is a confidential, free service that helps individuals connect with resources and services available in their community. It's a lifeline for those seeking assistance who aren't sure where to turn, offering support ranging from housing and food to healthcare and mental health services.
'211 Day is very important because it is like a national resource, and it's kind of like a simple number people can call if they are needing help and just don't know where to turn. I think that's really resourceful for people,' Jacqueline Brown, a Community Resource Specialist at WV 211, said.
The United Way said that in 2023, 211 fielded 15.4 million requests for help in the U.S.
United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties Executive Director Martin Howe highlights=ed the reliability and accessibility of 211, explaining how it operates '24/7, 365 days a year and is free.' He added that the service is confidential so that those who are embarrassed or don't want their information shared with the public are able to keep it private.
You can learn more about 211, by visiting its website here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
7 hours ago
- CBS News
WJZ staff takes part in Volunteer Day in South Baltimore community
Volunteers from WJZ stepped inside Curtis Bay Elementary School and picked up gardening tools right next door at the Filbert Street Garden on Wednesday. WJZ partnered with United Way of Central Maryland for Volunteer Day. "They're putting together summer STEM kits for the kids to take home," said Beth Littrell, the associate vice president of Community engagement and volunteerism with United Way of Central Maryland. "Helping to advance their mathematics and science skills," said Tanya Black, WJZ's Vice President of News. Giving back to the students The team helped students get ready for the summer. "It's our 100th anniversary," Littrell said. "So, they are packing up 100 items, and kids are going to use those 100 items to make something that can help the community in the next 100 years." Volunteers filled each backpack with pipe cleaners, rubber bands, and other items that will be given to roughly 450 students. Beautifying a Baltimore community garden As some volunteers worked inside, another group worked to beautify the Filbert Street Community Garden. The garden holds chickens, turkeys, and goats. It's a space that's meant to educate the community while also feeding residents living in a food desert. Volunteers removed hay, spread manure, and fed chickens. Jen Huie, an animal caretaker with the community garden, said this work lightened the load for those who work at the garden that serves about 1,000 people each month. "The labor you're providing would take our stewards and our animal husbandry coordinator many, many hours to accomplish," Huie said. Work and some play When the work was done, volunteers had some fun with students and participated in a soccer game with 4th and 5th graders. They connected with students and staff, hoping to give them a different meaning to being 'on your corner.' "We have to cover these communities every single day," Black said. "That's our job, right. That's our responsibility to this community. But then showing up and doing this, that's not a part of it, but for us it is, and it's from the heart."
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
United Way officials encouraged by awareness of 211 services; ‘We're very excited about the results of the … survey'
Awareness of the 211 Lake County service offered by United Way of Lake County to help people with a variety of needs — from paying for rent or a utility bill, to escaping domestic violence, to mental health, to legal issues and more — is growing and exceeding expectations, officials say. Three years after it was started in 2019, a survey commissioned by United Way showed 21.5% of county residents were aware of the telephone service's existence. Three years later, Gale Graves, the organization's vice president of community impact, said people are substantially more aware. After the initial survey, Graves said a second study was ordered earlier this year to determine whether the efforts to let people know how the service can help were fruitful. 'We're very excited about the results of the awareness survey,' she said, 'In 2022, we were told 15% (awareness) would be good, and we did 21.5%. Our awareness in Lake County is increasing even more. With a third aware, we are drawing awareness across the county.' Awareness of United Way's 211 service grew 63.4% between 2022 and 2025, with 33.4% of residents surveyed cognizant of the assistance across Lake County. The organization is using the latest survey results to help it plan for the future. Though anyone in Lake County might need to call 211, Graves said a larger percentage are those living below the poverty level, 8%, or who do not earn a living wage, 26%, are knowledgeable. ''People who are not earning a living wage' means they are not earning enough to be able to afford basic needs like housing, utilities or healthcare,' Graves said. 'They are not able to afford all the basics.' Among people or families with income less than $50,000 a year, Jennifer Strom, United Way's director of marketing and communications, said in an email awareness is higher, with 43.5% of the subgroup knowledgeable. Strom said a large number of calls come from people dealing with homelessness and needing shelter, recovering from substance abuse, those with mental health needs or crime victims. They are referred to partner agencies specializing in their situations. 'Some of our partner agencies serve the Spanish-speaking and immigrant communities,' Strom said. For those not speaking English or Spanish, Graves said there are interpretation services for 150 languages including Polish, Korean, Hindi, Russian, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Urdu and Mandarin. Part of the reason for the growth in awareness exceeding expectations comes from United Way's outreach to the county's Spanish-speaking community. Newspaper and radio commercials were done in both languages, according to a press release. Materials are multicultural. Between Jan. 1 and March 31 of this year, 211 has reached 14,884 community contacts and 1,300 people have been trained to use the service, according to the release. The training is done in both English and Spanish. Graves said United Way regularly goes to community events and holds workshops to both increase awareness and teach people how to use the 211 service. There is also contact with community partners who specialize in particular needs. 'We talk to people to make them aware of 211,' Graves said. 'We do trainings with people to teach them how to use 211.' Community partners include Family First of Lake County, NIRCO, school districts, HACES, Mano a Mano, libraries, the YWCA and more.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Advocates help raise awareness in Harrison County for Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — June is Alzheimer's and brain awareness month, and here in West Virginia, more than 38,000 people aged 65 and older have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or some sort of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Impact Movement. And as the age of people diagnosed is decreasing, general concern is increasing. Advocates of the cause are helping raise awareness of Alzheimer's and brain health by speaking with local city councils. These advocates were granted a proclamation on behalf of the Harrison County Commission in its meeting on Wednesday, the Clarksburg City Council on Thursday, and will receive one from the Bridgeport City Council on Friday. 12 News spoke with Bill O'Field, Mission Chairman of the North Central Walk to End Alzheimer's, who spoke with doctors from the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute on what some of the key signs of dementia and Alzheimer's may look like. Harrison County commissioners split on future of Sunset Ellis property 'It's normal in the aging process to maybe forget a name or forget where you put your car keys, but then you find them. And maybe later in the day, the seniors say, 'but then I remember that name when I get home. The doctor said that's good.' That's just the normal aging process taking place. But it's when you can't cook for yourself, you don't know how to do your laundry, those are the true signs of Alzheimer's,' said O'Field. O'Field also mentioned to be wary of weight loss and depression, and to maintain a healthy diet and exercise, as a healthy body can help result in a healthy mind. The Harrison County Senior Center offers an Alzheimer's support group in its boardroom at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. You can call 304-623-6795 for more information. The North Central Walk to End Alzheimer's will also be held on Oct. 5 this year at the Meadowbrook Mall with registration beginning at 1 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. For more information about Alzheimer's and local resources, you can call 800-272-3900 or click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
