The United Way of South-Central Illinois is introducing a helpline for people needing to access local resources in Jefferson, Marion and Washington Counties.
Executive director Nat Shook says the Path 211 program is designed to connect families and individuals to critical services in the communities it serves.
"Whether you need help finding food, housing, healthcare, employment or any other essential services, 211 is there to guide you. This service operates 24/7, ensuring that help is just a click away, no matter when you need it."
Shook says the community can use the 2-1-1 line a variety of ways.
"If you know someone facing a crisis or simply needs some assistance, you can call 211 from your phone to speak with a trained specialist. These specialists are equipped with providing information about a wide range of services including food pantries, mental health, counseling, job training programs and more."
Shook says there is no charge for the public or the agencies who list their information on the help-line and the website. She says the United Way is covering the costs.
