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Independence, MO —
As summer’s heat nears and many people will need to seek out cooling centers, the United Way of Greater Kansas City has a reminder: Dial 211 if you need help and aren’t sure where to turn.
The group began 211 several years ago to help people get in touch with services ranging from finding health care to getting help with utility bills.
“We connect people to services,” Gary Thurman, emergency management coordinator, United Way 211, told local emergency managers and health officials gathered for their monthly meeting last week.
“All we do is take calls and make referrals,” he said.
Emergency managers and health officials are eager to find ways to reduce each summer’s number of heat-related deaths. One way is to encourage those most vulnerable to the heat to get to a cooling center for at least a few hours on the hottest of days. Cities including Independence and Blue Springs open community centers as cooling centers on hot days.
There are 100 or more heat shelters in the metro area, Thurman said, adding that 211 can also refer callers to services that can get a person to a cooling center.
Jackson County is in the heart of a cluster of 23 counties on both sides of the state line served by 211. The idea is to be as simple to use as 911 is for emergencies. Phones are answered around the clock, and there are operators who speak Spanish.
You can also connect to the service at http://www.unitedwaygkc.org.
United Way only refers callers to non-profit group.
“We don’t charge a fee, and we don’t refer to people that do,” Thurman said.
As summer’s heat nears and many people will need to seek out cooling centers, the United Way of Greater Kansas City has a reminder: Dial 211 if you need help and aren’t sure where to turn.
The group began 211 several years ago to help people get in touch with services ranging from finding health care to getting help with utility bills.
“We connect people to services,” Gary Thurman, emergency management coordinator, United Way 211, told local emergency managers and health officials gathered for their monthly meeting last week.
“All we do is take calls and make referrals,” he said.
Emergency managers and health officials are eager to find ways to reduce each summer’s number of heat-related deaths. One way is to encourage those most vulnerable to the heat to get to a cooling center for at least a few hours on the hottest of days. Cities including Independence and Blue Springs open community centers as cooling centers on hot days.
There are 100 or more heat shelters in the metro area, Thurman said, adding that 211 can also refer callers to services that can get a person to a cooling center.
Jackson County is in the heart of a cluster of 23 counties on both sides of the state line served by 211. The idea is to be as simple to use as 911 is for emergencies. Phones are answered around the clock, and there are operators who speak Spanish.
You can also connect to the service at http://www.unitedwaygkc.org.
United Way only refers callers to non-profit group.
“We don’t charge a fee, and we don’t refer to people that do,” Thurman said.
