Finding yourself in a pinch and don’t know where to turn? It wouldn’t hurt to give the local 211 line run by the United Way a try. “Often when people are in a crisis, they have multiple things that need to get worked on,” Ann Searles, Executive Director of United Way St. Croix Valley said of the 211 community resource line the organization operates. More than just a connection to a single phone number, the 211 call line is staffed in part with volunteers and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Those with a 715 area code just dial 211 (NO *), while those without a 715 area code can dial 1-877-947-2211 to get connected to local resources. But where did the local 211 program come from?

“We’re here to help those in need,” Searles said of the program which serves residents of Pierce, Polk, St. Croix and Burnett counties. The local 211 program from the United Way came out of a Community Health Needs Assessment, which showed that local communities needed a central location to call for help. Enter the 211 program.

Within the region, Searles said that there are 500 different resources the United Way 211 line can connect residents to, while statewide that number jumps up to 5,000. These can range anywhere from local non-profits that help with crisis situations, to county as well as church resources. There are also opportunities to serve on the 211 line itself.

“We are currently recruiting volunteers to help answer calls,” Searles said of the information line. Volunteers at the 211 center (there is also a person on United Way staff that works the 211 line) can often give callers information on 5-7 different resources they may be able to use, in light of the tendency for crises to pile up. Currently recruiting volunteers to work the 211 phone line operated through the United Way, those interested in helping their local area or community by staffing 211 can contact Jessica Neumann, the 211 Community Impact Director, at 715-377-0203 extension 103 for more details.