Photo by Eric Ayres Wheeling City Council proclaimed today, Feb. 11, as 211 Day, recognizing the helpline powered by the United Way that connects those in need with a variety of important community resources. From left are council members Tony Assaro and Connie Cain; Melynda Sampson, community resource specialist for the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley; Mayor Denny Magruder, Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis, and Councilmen Ty Thorngate and Dave Palmer.

WHEELING — Today, Feb. 11 — or 2/11 — is recognized nationally as 211 Day, and members of the public are encouraged to learn more about the resources available simply by calling 211.

A free and confidential service offered with support through the United Way, 211 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It connects individuals and families to the essential services and health and human services resources they need — including assistance with housing, food, health care, transportation and more.

“It’s a comprehensive information and referral service,” said Melynda Sampson, community resource specialist for the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley and for the 211 service in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. “It’s for anybody who is looking for resources — food, housing, insurance, medicines and prescriptions, and things like that.”

The 211 network includes more than 200 agencies across the nation that work to assist millions of people each year, making it easier to find help in times of need. From information on disaster-related services to intake requirements and eligibility for specific programs, 211 has the database to find the answers and help send people in the right direction.

Sampson said many times, those who use the system are simply unsure of where to go to find the specific resources they’re seeking.

“Maybe they have limited funding or they’re putting their mother into a new place and they’re not sure how things are going to go,” she said. “Sometimes you need to talk to somebody and get help navigating all of the different resources that are out there.”

In the information age, a wealth of searchable data is available at your fingertips online — but sometimes there is so much information, users can have difficulty navigating through and narrowing down options to the desired result.

“A lot of times, you’ll Google something, but it’s just so impersonal and it’s so overwhelming that you just don’t know where to start,” Sampson said. “So that’s kind of what 211 is — that voice on the other end of the line helping you navigate and find the local resources that will actually help you.”

Sampson said West Virginia 211 is its own nonprofit entity that is powered by the United Way. The service itself actually started back in the mid-1980s and 1990s as the First Call for Help. The United Way subsequently took over management of the 211 system, and in West Virginia, the service became much more coordinated and cohesive when the United Way got behind the service in a statewide capacity in 2019.

“It’s really a United Way-supported initiative,” Sampson said.

Today, Sampson and 12 other coordinators in United Way regions across the state are available to talk or text live with anyone who seeks help through the 211 system.

“We really want everybody to know that 211 is available,” she said. “Even if it is the wrong place and we can’t help you directly, we can usually steer you in the right direction.”

Wheeling City Council officially proclaimed today as 211 Day in Wheeling, encouraging all residents to learn more about the resources available through 211 and to use the service when needed.

“We recognize the incredible impact 211 has had in our community, helping countless individuals find the services and support they need to overcome life’s challenges,” Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder said.

Sampson added that the service can be very helpful to individuals in the homeless community or low-income families, but it is available to anyone and everyone.

“To be able to just remember and dial a simple number like 211 can be very beneficial for people in need,” she said. “We’re here to help anybody whenever.”

For more information about the service, visit https://wv211.org.