When a family needs help putting food on the table, a domestic violence victim needs shelter after fleeing danger, or a single parent needs help with childcare support, 211 Powered by United Way of Greater St. Louis is here to provide a pathway to hope.
For nearly 20 years, 211 has been an anchor for our efforts to help our local neighbors. We are staffed with dozens of trained 211 Navigators who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to connect our neighbors in need with resources and support near them.
In the aftermath of the May 16th tornado storms, 211 helped thousands of displaced individuals and families. In the midst of chaos and destruction, 211 stood at the ready in the midst of this crisis, connecting neighbors with assistance for temporary housing, food, clothing, debris removal services, and long-term recovery efforts.
“There will inevitably be challenges that we or someone we know will have to face at some point, but there is peace in knowing that 211 will always be there as a connector to resources needed to move us from crisis to stability,” said Robin Pokojski, Vice President of Community Partnerships for United Way of Greater St. Louis.
Last year, 211 assisted over 254,000 contacts. Our 211 helpline will continue to be here to help our neighbors overcome challenges in 2026 and the years to come.
Individuals can contact 211 by simply dialing 211, or calling/texting 1-800-427-4626. You can also visit 211Helps.org to access an online chat, search directory, or mobile app for iPhone and Android users. A multilingual service for up to 150 different languages is also available.
While we work diligently to offer timely and accurate resource information, 211 does not control, manage, or guarantee the availability, capacity, or quality of services delivered by external agencies, partners, or systems.
Our 211 Navigators are on the frontlines of our efforts to help people, and as National 211 Day approaches, a few of them shared some 211 success stories they’ve had over the years.
- I was involved in the May 16th tornado storm. I called United Way 211 and spoke with Charlotte. Charlotte was so helpful and took her time to make sure I received all the resources I could get. Some kind of way Charlotte ended up telling me how she became an employee at United Way which inspired me to want to apply for a position like hers. I explained to Charlotte that I was seeking a different part-time job and I love to help people, so she encouraged me to apply for a 211 Navigator position. Long story short – here I am today, a proud employee of United Way 211 as a 211 Navigator.
- There was a call from a senior citizen named Kim. She was very upset and having trouble breathing. She had been living in a rental unit that had been falling apart for roughly six years. She even said the news media had featured the apartment’s conditions in their newscasts. Kim had mold in her apartment, had been harassed by another tenant and had to call the police several times, and she told me that they are now renovating her unit and they need her to move to a different apartment in the meantime. I referred her to the AAA, Cardinal Ritter, and Lutheran Senior Services who were able to find her a more stable, comfortable living environment. She was very grateful.
- I helped a woman named Anna. Her husband is a veteran, and he has cancer and had to quit working. They were assisted with a $600 pledge for their electric bill to avoid disconnection.
- I had a caller who was a single parent of three children who called in crying about how she was going to have to pack up and leave her home because she couldn’t pay her utility bill and her electricity got turned off, but she had nowhere to go. I helped her fill out an assistance form to apply for a $150 grant, and as we were speaking, her service came back on! She went from crying tears of sadness to tears of joy, I was even crying with her. She was thanking me for all 211 does in the community. She will never forget how we helped her and she said she will tell everyone she knows about us.
Whether its immediate needs like food, shelter, or transportation; or long-term solutions like education, job training, and counseling, 211 is here to help lay the foundation for a brighter future. We have had hundreds of testimonials like these over the years, and we hope to have more as the new year begins.
“With National 211 Day coming up on February 11th, I hope we can all reflect on how crucial 211 has been, especially with some of the unique challenges we faced last year, and spread awareness about it, so people know who to reach out to when they need help,” said Robin.
Take action now:
- Visit 211Helps.org to learn more about United Way 211.
- Share this story with family and friends.
