If you have an emergency and need the services of a first responder you have an easy three-digit number — 911 — that will help you summon assistance quickly, but when people need assistance due to unfortunate circumstances or an emergency in which they need the help of a social service agency, there is a hotline that can connect them to the services they need. The PA 2-1-1 system is a free, confidential dialing code to help connect Pennsylvanians to health and human service needs.

Through 2-1-1 people connect to a wide range of services from disaster relief to utility assistance, senior citizen programs, emergency food, job counseling, youth programs, and much more. It is the one-stop-shop for services available in communities across Pennsylvania.

Currently, the PA 2-1-1 system is funded by a combination of United Way support, grants and private contributions, and contracts. The Lycoming County United Way and the nonprofit, PA 2-1-1, are partners in supporting this community-strengthening service.

“PA 2-1-1 can be a valuable re.source to residents here in Lycoming County,” Ron Frick, Lycoming County United Way President, told Webb Weekly. “Having one coordinated approach makes sense, and now it’s available in all Pennsylvania counties. Our biggest challenge is making sure people know about the service and then encouraging them to dial to get the help they need.”

Presently, there are seven regions throughout the Commonwealth providing the 2-1-1 service. Most of the regions, including ours in northeastern Pennsylvania, offer 24/7 phone coverage, as well as texting during some or all hours of the day. To text 2-1-1, simply enter TXT211. These features provide easy access to services for varying needs and at times convenient for those looking for information.

While 9-1-1 is reserved for emergency services, 2-1-1 is the call to make for health, human services, and disaster relief. The Federal Communications Commission designated 2-1-1 for nationwide use as an information and referral phone line in 2000. Since then, Pennsylvania has joined with the rest of the nation to provide this service to our communities, and have expanded 2-1-1 connectivity through text and chat availability.

2-1-1 is designed to serve three major objectives:

1. Connect people in need to health and human service assistance avail.able through government programs and private nonprofit organizations in their communities;

2. Provide assistance to communities in time of disaster, allowing 9-1-1 to work primarily with first responders; and

3. Connect volunteers and donors with organizations who can lever.age these resources to meet the needs of the community.

To learn more about the PA 2-1-1 system, please visit http://www.uwp.org/what-2-1-1. For more information on the Lycoming County United Way or to donate, please visit their website at http://www.lcuw.org, text LIVEUNITED to 50155, or call them at (570) 323-9448.

The Lycoming County United Way is a charitable non-profit organization that builds partnerships to solve community problems and raises funds for human service programs. They fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. Working with program partners, they mobilize resources to improve the lives of people in Lycoming, Sullivan, and Tioga counties. This is done by assessing the needs of each community, raising funds, investing in programs, and measuring results.