February 10, 2021- Tomorrow (Thursday, February 11th) is National 211 Day, and the United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois is hoping everyone in the community remembers this important resource.
211 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects callers with free information and referrals for community services in Macon, DeWitt, Moultrie, Piatt, & Shelby Counties. 211 is staffed 24/7 by trained volunteers and staff who will listen to an individual’s situation and refer them to the most appropriate government or social service nearest to them.
2020 was a busy year for 211 as more families needed assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from https://uwaypath.211counts.org/ shows that the service received about 26 percent more calls from our five-county region in 2020 compared to 2019. Rent and mortgage assistance was the highest request in 2020, accounting for about 28 percent of calls, while utilities were the reason for 21 percent of calls.
National 211 Day was established in the United States to spread the news about this vital community resource. In 2020, UWDMI received a mayoral proclamation naming Feb. 11, 2020 as 211 Day in the City of Decatur.
To learn more about 211, visit www.uwdecatur.org/211.
