Finding the Help you Need - Dial 211

“You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.” Just about everyone can relate in some way to that line from the famous Rolling Stones song. Especially now, when for many, the stability in their lives is shaken a little or a lot by a loss of a job, being unable to make a mortgage or utility payment, or needing help in finding appropriate care for a loved one.

The best way to “get what you need” is to know where to go for help. It is so simple; just pick up the phone and dial 211. 2-1-1 of WNC, provided through a partnership of support by United Ways and County Governments in Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania and Madison Counties, offers free, confidential, 24/7 information and referrals to more than 2,000 programs; about 550 of which are specific to Henderson County.

Each call to 2-1-1 is answered by a trained referral specialist who listens to the caller’s situation, and directs the caller to the appropriate program or government service. 2-1-1 has multilingual capabilities, so a referral specialist can speak with a caller in any language.

One Henderson County caller to 2-1-1 was Doris. She was worried about care for her 50 year old developmentally disabled son. Doris and her husband had always cared for their son together, but her husband had recently passed away. Doris, in her 80s, was concerned about caring for her son on her own, and was seeking a way to connect her son with some community support.

Doris explained her situation to the 2-1-1 referral specialist and was referred to an adult day care program where her son could receive socialization, living skills assistance, and other services, including transportation to and from the center.

The referral specialist followed up with Doris a few weeks later and learned that not only had Doris contacted the adult day care program, but also other services that the referral specialist had told her about. Doris had begun receiving bereavement counseling, and the counselor was providing Doris not only with emotional support, but was also helping her with tasks related to becoming the head of the household for the first time. Doris was learning to balance her checkbook, arrange for home maintenance, and was learning to be more self-sufficient.

“2-1-1 was there for me in my time of need,” said Doris. “They gave me information about options for my son. What’s more, they guided me to help I didn’t even know how to ask for.”

Doris is just one of nearly 3,200 Henderson County callers to 2-1-1 who requested assistance for more than 13,000 needs in the past year. At a time when Henderson County residents—many of whom have never needed or requested assistance before—are seeking help, 2-1-1 provides appropriate, comprehensive, accurate program information and tells each caller how to connect to the services they need.

2-1-1 is accessible from both landline and cell phones, and the 2-1-1 database can be accessed by visiting www.211WNC.org.

For more information about 2-1-1 or to schedule a speaker for your group or organization, please contact United Way of Henderson County at 828-692-1636 or www.liveunitedhc.org.

United Way is advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life in Henderson County. If you would like more information or have questions or comments about United Way, or would like to make a donation, contact the United Way of Henderson County at PO Box 487, Hendersonville, NC 28793, call 692-1636, visit on the Web at liveunitedhc.org, or become a fan of UWHC on Facebook.

Rising Leaders to Graduate

After eight months of education and community service, nineteen members of United Way of Henderson County’s Rising Leaders Program are ready to graduate and start making a difference as volunteers with Henderson County non-profits.

Launched last September, this was the pilot year of the Rising Leaders Program, sponsored by Friday Staffing. United Way of Henderson County (UWHC) created the free program as a direct response to a need that many Henderson County non-profit agencies had expressed - a need for access to the next generation of board members and key volunteers.

Rising Leaders participants, young professionals representing a wide variety of Henderson County businesses and organizations, received training in the essential knowledge and skills for board service: the demographics and needs of our community; the principles of governance and management of a non-profit; the rights and responsibilities of board members; best practices of financial and legal leadership; the basics of fundraising; and the power of advocacy. Participants also collectively completed over 400 hours of community service within Henderson County during the program, volunteering with American Red Cross, Mainstay, Salvation Army and 30 other local organizations.

On April 24, the Rising Leaders Program will hold a graduation celebration at the Southern Appalachian Brewery beginning at 5:00 pm. In addition to the graduates and United Way staff and volunteers, representatives from 18 Henderson County non-profits will be on hand, ready to meet these trained and eager volunteers. Graduates and Agency Directors will participate in a “speed-dating” activity to explore volunteer opportunities at the various non-profits. During fast-paced, two minute conversations, Rising Leaders will introduce themselves, sharing the interests and the skills that they will bring to non-profit service. Agency Directors will explain the work that their organizations do, and hopefully, some “matches” will be made!

The 2011-2012 Rising Leaders Program graduates are: Rachel Beal, Diversified Clinical Services; Ryan Cannon, First Citizens Bank; David Crist, Pardee Hospital; Adam Fisher, Henderson County Family YMCA; Pamela Herbst, Pardee Hospital; Jennifer Israel, Mission Hospital; Marcus Jones, Henderson County Government; James Kelly, Aging Projects, Inc.; Nitiki Kilgore, Agape Services; Randy Maples, Eaton Corporation; Jama Maples, Eaton Corporation; Chad Merrill; Blue Ridge Community College; Brandon Nudd, Park Ridge Health; Lisa Sargent, Friday Staffing Services; Brett Shaffer, Morrow Insurance Agency; Wesley Wells, Pardee Hospital; Melanie White, Department of Commerce, Division of Welfare Solutions; Jay Wilderman, First Citizens Bank; and Erica Woodall, Mills River United Methodist Church.

The Rising Leaders Program is a creation of United Way of Henderson County’s Rising Leaders Committee. Chaired by Graham Fields of Park Ridge Health, the committee members are: Christina DeStefano, Henderson County Government; Josh Hallingse, Partnership for Economic Development; April Killough, Blue Ridge Community College; Summer Stipe, Children and Family Resource Center; and Melissa Walden, Pardee Hospital.

UWHC will be accepting applications for the 2012/2013 Rising Leaders Program beginning on May 15. Application materials will be available at an informational event that evening at Never Blue (119 South Main Street) from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Anyone is welcome to attend this free event; please call 692-1636 or email dspitzer@liveunitedhc.org to rsvp. After May 15, application materials will also be available on the UWHC website at liveunitedhc.org/rising-leaders. Please contact Sarah Kowalak at 692-1636 or skowalak@liveunitedhc.org for more information about the Rising Leaders Program.