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211 Wisconsin a one-stop shop for help

Posted at 3:14 PM, Jun 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-08 19:57:40-04

WISCONSIN (NBC 26) -- There remains a tremendous amount of need in our community as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but there are also dozens of resources out there that can help.

211 Wisconsin is a one-stop shop that has put many of those resources together.

When you dial 211, you'll go through some prompts or get connected to an information and referral specialist. Those experts have an entire resource database at their fingertips. They can quickly sort through it and connect you with the help you need or direct you where to go next.

It's free, and it operates 24/7.

“Being able to pick up the phone at any time of day or night and dial those three numbers and get connected to a person who is going to help you navigate to those resources is critical right now," Brown County United Way President Robyn Davis said.

Leaders at the 211 Call Center say they've put in a lot of work to match their database with the needs of the coronavirus pandemic.

“What a lot of those calls really led into was us having the opportunity to see what other needs people have," Marathon County United Way 211 program director Megan Schreiber said.

For example, somebody who has lost a job in the pandemic may now need help paying for rent or finding food. With 211, those resources are all just one phone call away.