Volunteers Spread Word About Helpline
Nearly a dozen Hispanic volunteers recently helped spread the word about United
Way of Greater Union County's new 2-1-1 helpline to Hispanic businesses and
residents in Elizabeth.
United Way's Hispanic leadership Advisory Council volunteers walked door-to-door
delivering flyers, posters and other promotional materials to promote the 2-1-1
helpline that is linking hundreds of local callers to the social services they
need.
"Every hour of every day, someone in our community needs essential services
- from finding substance abuse assistance to securing adequate care for a child
or an aging parent," said Julio Sabater, President of Workforce Advantage
in Elizabeth. Faced with a dramatic increase in the number of agencies and help
lines, people often don't know where to turn. 2-1-1 will be a vital resource
for thousands of local people in need of assistance with health and human services."
Calls to 2-1-1 are always free and confidential and are handled in English
and Spanish.
The 2-1-1 information specialists will provide comprehensive information and
referral services to callers about a variety of issues, including:
- Basic items such as food banks, clothing banks, shelters, rent assistance,
utitity assistance.
- Physical and mental health resources such as health insurance programs,
Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, children's health insurance program,
medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling,
drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.
- Employment supports in the form of financial assistance, job training, transportation
assistance, education programs.
- Support for older Americans and persons with disabilities including adult
day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care,
transportation, homemaker services.
- Support for children, youth and families such as childcare, after school
programs, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring,
tutoring, protective services.
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