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U.S. Rep. Eshoo Urges Action on 211

July 7, 2010 By Maria Stokes Leave a Comment
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U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo and United Way gathered business and community leaders at a rally today at a UPS facility in Sunnyvale to urge Congress to approve the Calling for 211 Act (H.R.211/S.211), which will expand the 211 information and referral service to all Americans.  The bill will support expansion of 211 to the entire state of California, where service is now available in 26 of 58 counties.

Congress is heading toward the end of its 2010 session, and if the bill does not pass before this session ends, it will expire, and the country will lose its most significant opportunity to date to expand 211 coverage.  The bill already has 243 bi-partisan co-sponsors in the House and 61 in the Senate, more than enough to secure approval.

“211 helps connect millions of Americans every year with an array of essential programs, from health services to housing assistance.  Almost 10 years after it was designated, the 211 number only reaches two-thirds of the U.S. population and includes less than half the counties in California.  I’ve authored the Calling For 211 Act to expand this critical service to all Americans and ensure it continues to provide a valuable lifeline for decades to come,” Rep. Eshoo said.

Anne Wilson, CEO of United Way of the Bay Area, which operates 211 in five Bay Area counties, said, “211 is serving as a life line for struggling families during these tough times. All people, everywhere, need to be able to dial 211 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – to get the help they need in the event of a personal crisis or a disaster. This can only happen if H.R.211 passes this year. Without federal funding, expanding our 211 call centers to adequately serve growing needs will be a significant challenge.”

Read the press release about today’s 211 rally.

Take action to support 211 today: visit www.liveunited.org/211, where you can quickly identify your Congressional representatives and send an email to urge them to bring H.R.211 to a vote.

Filed Under: Road to Recovery Tagged With: , , ,

FREE Summer Meals for Bay Area Kids

June 4, 2010 By Maria Stokes Leave a Comment
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Communities throughout the Bay Area will begin free summer meal programs for children this month, serving meals on weekdays throughout the summer at summer-school and community sites.  All children 18 years old and younger are eligible, regardless of their families’ income.

Families are encouraged to dial 2-1-1 for free meal information in more than 150 languages.   Residents who can’t dial 2-1-1 should call 800-273-6222.

NOTE:  Because of funding cuts, many school districts and community organizations that have previously served summer meals have curtailed or eliminated summer meal service this year.  Families are encouraged to call 2-1-1 to obtain the most up-to-date information about meal locations, serving times and dates.  2-1-1 can also provide referrals to food pantries and other resources if there is no summer-meal program nearby.

Many families whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches during the school year are not aware that they can also get free, nutritious lunches during the summer.    For instance, in recent years, only 30% of eligible children took advantage of free summer meals in San Francisco.

WHERE:
Meals are served at schools and community sites in many Bay Area school districts, including Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood, Concord, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Pinole, Pittsburg, Richmond, Rodeo, San Francisco, San Pablo, San Rafael, and Vallejo, just to name a few.  Most meal sites are located at or near schools that have 50% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

Filed Under: Road to Recovery Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Recession Far from Over for Bay Area Nonprofits

May 13, 2010 By Maria Stokes Leave a Comment
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Despite reports that the economy may finally be recovering, Bay Area nonprofit organizations – and the clients they serve – are still reeling from the recession, according to United Way’s eighth annual Bay Area Nonprofit Pulse Survey.

The financial well-being of the Bay Area nonprofit sector continued to erode in 2009. Fifty-one percent of survey respondents indicated that revenues declined in 2009, with 39% stating their organizations’ revenue dropped by more than 10%.

When asked if they are observing signs of recovery among their clients, only 3% of respondents indicated their clients are faring better now than they were a year ago, while 45% stated that their clients are faring worse.

Demand for services continues to surge, with 62% of nonprofits reporting an increase in service demand last year. Of that group, 40% indicated they were unable to meet increased service demand.

“We know that the families and individuals who have been hit hardest by the recession will need months, even years to fully recover and get back on their feet,” said Anne Wilson, CEO of United Way of the Bay Area. “To ensure local nonprofits can weather this storm, and serve mounting needs, it is so important for everyone who can to step up now – to give, advocate and volunteer – in support of our community.”

Read the press release. Media coverage:

San Francisco Business Times – “Over half of nonprofits see revenue drop”
San Francisco Chronicle – “Bay Area jobs hit harder by recession than U.S.”
KQED Radio’s California Money – “Nonprofits Still Hurting”
Times-Herald – “Solano County, Bay Area nonprofits see few signs of a rebound”
CC Times -  “Survey:  Bay Area nonprofit agencies still scuffling”
Inside Bay Area – “Bay Area nonprofits report rising demand, declining revenue”

Filed Under: Road to Recovery Tagged With: , , , ,
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