Blog » Archives for 2-1-1

Call 211 to Get or Give Holiday Help

November 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The holidays are right around the corner, and United Way wants Bay Area residents to get connected!

GET HELP:  Call the 211 helpline today to see if you are eligible for holiday assistance programs, such as free holiday meals, food, and toys. Resources are limited and demand for holiday help continues to be extremely high, so it is important to call 211 early to connect with programs that serve our region.

GIVE HELP:  211 can also connect people who wish to give help to nonprofits seeking volunteers and donations.  Dial 211 to connect with opportunities such as serving holiday meals, organizing a food drive, or donating toys to children in need.

Residents who cannot dial 211 should call 800-273-6222 to reach their local 211 call center. For the hearing impaired, dial 415-808-4440 (TTY) or 711.

211 is an easy-to-remember, toll-free phone number that connects callers with local community services, such as food, shelter, counseling, employment assistance, quality child care and more. 211 is confidential and available 24 hours a day in more than 150 languages.  For more information, visit www.211BayArea.org.

Photo courtesy of Mosman Council via Creative Commons license.

Filed Under: Pathways out of Poverty Tagged With: ,

211 Financial Advice Phone-a-thon a Success

October 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

On September 27 and 28, United Way‘s 211 helpline was joined by more than 50 professional financial experts to provide free financial advice to Bay Area residents during the first-ever San Francisco Financial Advice Line in partnership with the San Francisco Office of the Treasurer

Jose Cisneros, Treasurer-Tax Collector for the city and county of San Francisco (left), spearheaded the 211 Financial Advice Phone-a-Thon. He is pictured with United Way CEO Anne Wilson and his staff member, Leigh Phillips.

More than 230 calls were answered on topics that ranged from bankruptcy to retirement planning.  Callers were able to speak directly to certified financial planners from the San Francisco Financial Planning Association and consumer credit counselors at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco to help get the financial assistance that they need.

Jose Cisneros, Treasurer-Tax Collector for the city and county of San Francisco, spearheaded the event though his Office of Financial Empowerment.  He commented, “Our success this week comes from the strong partners we’ve worked with to make the phone-a-thon happen –211, United Way, Consumer Credit Counseling San Francisco, and the Financial Planning Association.  That all these folks are willing to donate their services is tremendous.”

The advice line was covered live by KPIX (Channel 5) News as well as by ABC-7 consumer advocate Michael Finney.

Ralph Latza, President of the San Francisco Financial Planning Association, which recruited financial experts for the advice line, said, “In this environment, people want to know where to turn.  With this inaugural event, we are creating doors and opening them so people at every level have access.”

If you missed the 211-advice line, you are encouraged to attend upcoming Financial Planning Days in the Bay Area (http://www.financialplanningdays.org) near you.  For example, San Francisco’s Financial Planning Day will be held on October 22.

KPIX interviews a volunteer. Click on the links in this blog post to see TV news coverage from KPIX and ABC-7.

The San Francisco Financial Advice Line was made possible through the partnership of:

  • United Way’s 211 Helpline
  • Charles Schwab
  • Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco
  • San Francisco Financial Planning Association
  • San Francisco Smart Money Network
  • San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment
  • San Francisco Office of the Treasurer
  • San Francisco Mayor’s Office
  • Wells Fargo

To learn more about 211, dial 211 or visit www.211bayarea.org

Filed Under: Pathways out of Poverty Tagged With: , ,

Flu Season is Here! Dial 211 for Vaccine Info

October 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Flu season has officially arrived.  Information about flu shots in the Bay Area is available by simply dialing 211.  Your local 211 call center can provide information in over 150 languages about where to get flu shots.

In the United States, influenza season usually begins in October and can last until May.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older should get a yearly flu vaccine. It takes about two weeks after vaccination to develop an immune response.

Residents who cannot dial 211 should call 800-273-6222 to connect with your local 211 call center.  For the hearing impaired, dial 415-808-4440 (TTY) or 711.

 

Photo courtesy of mcfarlandmo via Creative Commons license.

Filed Under: Pathways out of Poverty Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts