Dial 2-1-1

Get Help. Give Help

Every day people come to the realization that they need help.

People make eight calls on average before finding the right program to help them! Many people give up before they find the help they need. They call local agencies, government, faith congregations, 9-1-1, 4-1-1, etc.

United Way
has worked with a variety of local partners to offer a solution

DIAL 2-1-1.

2-1-1 is the phone number to call to find or give help in your community. 2-1-1 is designed to connect people with health and human service resources across East Tennessee.

2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember phone number to find help or give help.
  • Open 24/7/365, multi-lingual (more than 150 languages)
  • Once the caller presses “1” for English or “2” for Spanish, connects immediately with a live person – an expert, nationally certified, Information & Referral Specialist

How does it help the local health and human service network?
  • Less staff time spent on information and referral and on ineligible applicants
  • Agencies can access the 2-1-1 database to increase or decrease available support
  • Fewer non-emergency 9-1-1 calls
  • Additional demographic data for grant applications

Where is 2-1-1 offered?
  • About 32% of the United States population has access to 2-1-1
  • 70% of Tennessee’s population in 2004 had access (Knoxville, Chattanooga and much of East Tennessee, Memphis, Nashville and Middle Tennessee)

How can you help?
  • Help us spread the word about this helpful community service!
  • Let your customers and other constituencies know about this great service. We can provide a "communication kit" for you to include the "2-1-1" information in your employee and customer communications. Contact the United Way of Loudon County office (865-882-7711 or click HERE) about these kits.
  • Verify with your company that the PBX phone system does not block calls from their building(s) to 2-1-1. This is a great resource for everyone!

Click here to link to 2-1-1 Web site.