The United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore recently hosted a workshop to educate the residents of the Eastern Shore on Virginia 2-1-1. Elaina Dariah, 2-11 Outreach specialist, presented the program at the Eastern Shore Community College. 2-1-1 is an easy to remember phone number connecting people with free information on available community services. When you dial 2-1-1, a trained professional listens to your situation and suggests sources of help using one of the largest databases of health and human services in Virginia.
Ms. Dariah demonstrated how easy it is to go online and register an agency or business. 2-1-1 maintains Government, nonprofit, and community-based agencies, as well as businesses that provide health and human services to the citizens of Virginia. A key component of this program is having the agencies and business register with 2-1-1, a database of more than 6,000 agencies with more than 20,000 active and seasonal programs. To list your agency, click on "Update/Add Your Agency" and then click on the “Add New Agency” button.
All referrals are confidential and you can search for these services on www.211Virginia.org. VA 2-1-1 directs callers to agencies that provide not only basic human needs utility assistance, housing g, health care, food/meals and income support and assistance but such information as summer programs and legal, consumer and safety information. It can useful for anyone new to an area, people with limited vision or reading skills, and those who do not speak English. 2-1-1 is a free service and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 364 day a year.
The United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore organized this workshop to bring awareness of resources that can help improve the lives of our local community. Anyone needing additional information or who have questions can visit www.211Virginia.org or the link on the United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore’s website www.esunitedway.org or contact Executive Director Dawn Byrd at the United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore at dbyrd@esunitedaway.org.
