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Community Corner

United Way's 2-1-1 Hudson Valley Region: "2-1-1 Day" Celebration

PLEASE JOIN US to hear firsthand testimonies about how 2-1-1 has been a vital resource for so many.  Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Putnam County Executive Paul Eldridge and Chris Ashman, Chair of the 211 Hudson Valley Policy Board will join other community leaders who will recognize individuals who have supported 2-1-1’s work.  United Way is pleased to announce that the following people will be recognized:

  • Ken Curtin - Voluntary Agency Liaison FEMA Region 2 NY/NJ
  • Anthony Sutton - Commissioner, Westchester County Department of Emergency Services
  • Orange County Department of Social Services (Dave Jolly, Commissioner /Richard Magoch Administrative Officer)
  • Ann Ellsworth – Executive Director, Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center
  • Rockland County State Delegation - Hon. Ellen Jaffee, Hon. Ken Zebrowski & Sen. David Carlucci
  • Kathi Hitt - Sullivan County Department of Family Intervention and Outreach 

2-1-1 IN THE HUDSON VALLEY

United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline is an easy to remember 3-digit number.  Callers are referred to a full range of health and human services agencies and crisis support if needed.  Call volume to 2-1-1 increased 150% this past year underscoring its critical importance during challenging economic times in the Hudson Valley Region.

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2-1-1 is a confidential, multilingual service that enables government and nonprofit agencies to realize concrete cost savings through:

  1. Reliable, Comprehensive, Continuously Updated Human Services Database:  About 6% of 2-1-1 calls come from social workers, legislators and other caring professionals. 
  2. Disaster Relief: 2-1-1 provides a relief outlet for non-emergency calls that can flood 9-1-1 centers during disasters.  2-1-1 fielded 1,800 weather-related calls for the Orange County   9-1-1 system during the blizzard of February 2010.
  3. Assistance to Local Government:  Many local governments do not have the extra tax dollars to establish 3-1-1 service to provide information about municipal government services.  2-1-1 is a cost-saving alternative to 3-1-1 (i.e.  Recycling: 7,175 calls; Special Needs: 468 calls; and Home Energy Audits: 950 calls).

Find out what's happening in Pelhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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