Over Coffee with United Way of Story County

By Lynn Scarlett , Marketing Director

            Thirteen years ago, my husband and I uprooted our three children from their Anita home and forced them to become Nevada Cubs and drive cars with Story County plates. They thought this was all part of an evil plan we had to ruin their lives.  Our first night in Nevada was an adventure – the refrigerator was empty, the plates and silverware were buried in a box, and there was no telephone book to use to order pizza, so where do you turn?  I dialed 4-1-1 and got the telephone number of a local pizza place.  We had survived our first night in Nevada!  Not all of life’s challenges are quite that easy.  United Way of Story County (UWSC) receives a number of calls every month from Story County residents who don’t know where to turn to find help.

            Every hour of every day, hundreds of people need essential human services - they are looking for employment assistance, food pantries, help for an aging parent, addiction recovery programs, affordable housing options, support groups and ways of becoming part of their community.  This is where 2-1-1 comes in.  What is 2-1-1?  2-1-1 is the national abbreviated dialing code for free access to health and human services information and referral.  It is an easy-to-remember and universally recognizable number that makes a critical connection between individuals and families in need and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies.  The nation’s first 2-1-1 service was created in 1997 in metropolitan Atlanta .  Implementation of 2-1-1 was spearheaded by United Ways and information and referral agencies in states and local communities.  In 2009, 2-1-1 services in the United States answered more than 16.2 million calls.   

2-1-1 is available throughout Iowa, including Story County , and is available online as well (http://www.211iowa.org/.)

            Why would someone call 2-1-1 in Story County?  If you were new to the community and needed help finding childcare, 2-1-1 could help. If you recently lost your job, unemployment benefits haven’t begun yet and the refrigerator is nearly empty, 2-1-1 could direct you to a local food pantry. If you suspected your teenager was using alcohol and didn’t know what agency to call first, 2-1-1 could help.    

            UWSC is working to get the word out about 2-1-1 to Story County residents.  Local nonprofits have submitted information to the call center about services they provide so when residents call 2-1-1, they receive accurate information.  Through the end of March, 67 2-1-1 calls were made by Story County residents. Information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Most Story County residents probably are unaware of 2-1-1 and so UWSC made the decision to increase awareness throughout the county.  Local food pantries will be distributing 2-1-1 tote bags and refrigerator magnets to clients beginning June 17.  A billboard will be located on Lincoln Way and Kellogg beginning June 17.

            Our culture is one of “make it easy for me to get what I need.”  From calling directory assistance to get a pizza place telephone number to 9-1-1 to get emergency assistance to 2-1-1 to get information on how to make our lives, and those of our neighbors, families, and friends, better.  Because of the support of UWSC donors, programs like 2-1-1 are available for everyone in Story County.

Click here for the 2-1-1 Brochure