New 2-1-1 number to assist all residents

By Carole Brand

Published: June 17, 2008

When summer officially begins Saturday, a new information number 2-1-1, will start for hundreds of Alabamians and people across the nation to have access to health and human service agencies and information on how to volunteer.

According to Mindy Collier of the Wiregrass United Way, hundreds of United Ways across the country will participate in a nationwide “Day of Action” Saturday to link residents with all types of information they may need with all human and health services and on volunteer recruitment.

“In Enterprise, the Day of Action event is for raising awareness of the new 2-1-1 telephone number,” she said. “Particularly in the areas of education, income and health. The new number will work to help meet needs in the Wiregrass, such as when someone needs how to contact any agency for food, housing, water or for instance, in the case of the tornado last year, this number would have helped in telling people where water was available and where donations for food, water and other items could be taken.”

Collier said 2-1-1 has the capability, by using live operators, to link people in need with any assistance.

“It can also connect people who are looking to volunteer with agencies, such as we have with military wives or retirees in the area and we can tell them what agencies have the most need for their talents or skills.”

Even though the Wiregrass United Way covers five counties, the new number line will include seven. The counties included are Coffee, Geneva, Henry, Dale, Houston, Barbour and Covington.

According to Collier, the United States Congress reserved the 2-1-1 number to be used for this particular purpose.

“This has been in North Alabama for awhile, but it originally started as a United Way initiative in Atlanta,” she explained. “We took on this project after we received a grant to fund the 2-1-1 system with live operators and we did receive it for three years.”

With hurricane season in full swing, Collier said the phone number could also be used for people to call to find out about evacuations and routes open.

This Saturday, to raise awareness of the phone number during the Day of Action, volunteers with the Wiregrass United Way plan to be located at Supercenter Wal-Mart in Enterprise from 10 a.m. until noon. Volunteers will also be giving out information this Saturday at the Children’s Festival in the Park in Enterprise from 3-5 p.m.

“With one call, people can get access to resources across the whole community and there’s no more wrong number to waste time,” she said. “The 2-1-1- number does not have anything to do with the 9-1-1 system. The 9-1-1- remains as the number for life and death emergencies.”

Collier said the United Way believes the new number will create opportunities for a better life for everyone.

“When we all work together as far as organizations, governments and agencies, then we all can make a difference.”