National 211 Day: Celebrating the Impact of United Way 211

United Way’s 211 helpline supports residents facing issues from severe weather and economic uncertainties.

Katie Felts

Feb 10, 2026 10:51 AM

Listen to the story

ST. LOUIS — United Way 211 Day is celebrated annually on February 11th (2/11) to raise awareness for the 211 helpline, a free, 24/7 service connecting people across the U.S. and Canada to resources and support near them.

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

211 Powered by United Way of Greater St. Louisis the central, easy to remember number for residents across Missouri and Southwest Illinois to access critical support.

How 211 works: The 211 Helpline is a United Way-funded and managed helpline assisting with connecting people to available resources across our 16-county region. 211 does not provide direct services; the helpline serves as a connector to local resources and support. 211 does not control, manage, or guarantee the availability, capacity, or quality of services delivered by external agencies, partners, or systems.

211 relies on the partners and their systems once connections have been made regarding available resources.

Results: In 2025, over 254,000 people turned to 211 with the top requests related to critical needs such as housing and shelter, utilities, food insecurity, disaster relief, transportation, and so much more.

Article continues after sponsor message

Learn about our advertising opportunities!

“United Way 211 is on the frontlines of our efforts to help people with shelter and transportation concerns stemming from adverse weather conditions as well as ongoing housing insecurity, economic uncertainties, and long-term impacts of the May 16th storms,” said Regina Greer, Chief Impact Officer for United Way of Greater St. Louis. “211 is a vital resource and starting point for our neighbors to find connection to available local services and programs that can meet their needs.”

211 has a database of more than 24,000 community programs and services to support those who need help with a range of needs. 211 helps people get access to resources like food and shelter, mental and physical health resources, employment support, assistance for people with disabilities, and support for children, youth and families.

Individuals can contact 211 by 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.

Demand for assistance evolves and resource availability may change from day to day or minute by minute in some cases. 211 works to help individuals understand their options and connect them to organizations or services that may be able to support their needs.

For nearly 20 years, 211 has been here to help our local neighbors and looks forward to continuing to be there as local communities face ongoing challenges. Visit 211Helps.org to learn more.

Prefer RiverBender on Google