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Community Matters
United Way's 2-1-1 of WNC Newsletter 
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Tip!
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This email includes links to the NC 2-1-1 database. For local services, enter a zip code in "Areas Served" on the right, then scroll down and click "Update results."
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Greetings! United Way's 2-1-1 of WNC is your local community service information line, linking people to health and human services in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, McDowell and Transylvania counties*.
This e-newsletter is a resource for you. We provide this as a way to keep in touch, highlight local health and human service initiatives, promote information and referral tools for serving your clients, gain your feedback, and strengthen our community partnerships.
If you have information to include in this newsletter or have questions or comments, contact us. This information is meant to be shared, so please forward and encourage your colleagues and friends to sign-up.
*2-1-1 of WNC is part of the NC 2-1-1 system - click here to learn more. 2-1-1 is available to 90% of all Americans - click here to search for 2-1-1 in other areas.
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Call Center Statistics
2012 at 2-1-1
2012 was a busy year for 2-1-1! In addition to assisting with information and referrals, increasing public awareness of 2-1-1, and strengthening our relationships with agencies and our community, 2-1-1 also began serving McDowell County and laying the groundwork for providing services to Rutherford County and other areas.
Over 50,000 calls came through Asheville's NC 2-1-1 call center. The top two needs that callers asked for assistance with in 2012 were:
- Utility Service Payment Assistance- Individuals contacted 2-1-1 referral specialists about past due and shut off notices for electric services, water services, and help with heating oil.
- Food Pantries-Callers contacted 2-1-1 to help them access food and food pantries.
For information about these resources in your area, click on the links above, or look through the following articles. Or just call 2-1-1. Our referral specialists are always available to help.
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Needs in Our Community 
Utility Service Payments
United Way envisions a thriving community where people work together to ensure that everyone can fulfill their basic needs and have economic self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, many people can not meet their basic needs, do not have living wage jobs, and are not financially stable. That's why we're thankful for a strong network of service providers that provide assistance that assist with things such as utility service payments. 2-1-1 referral specialists are well acquainted with resources that assist the community with utility expenses.
Certain agencies offer individuals and families financial assistance for their utilities
Often, these organizations have different intake days and times and require specific documentation. To discuss what is needed and how to apply for services, call 2-1-1 and a referral specialist can guide you through how to access these services. Or click on the link above to browse services online.
Another agency that 2-1-1 sometimes refers callers to is the North Carolina Utilities Commission, a regulatory agency for public utilities such as electric, telephone, natural gas, water, etc. The NC Utility Commission assists customers in making payment arrangements, provides information, and answers questions about billings. For more information about the Utilities Commission, click the link above or call
2-1-1.
In addition, the NC 2-1-1 database has information on agencies that work to permanently reduce utility bills, utility providers in the area, and energy conservation programs. Referral specialists are happy to answer any question you have about these resources above when you dial 2-1-1.
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Needs in Our Community
Food and Food Pantries
United Way works toward a community where people in crisis or with ongoing needs have increased access to and use of public and private services that provide basic needs assistance. One of the most basic needs is food, and it was the second most common need of 2-1-1 callers in 2012.
Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger relief charity, has an interactive tool,"Mapping the Meal," that allows users to explore food insecurity across America. The link above leads to a map that illustrates that over 10% of Western North Carolinians lack access to enough food nutritionally adequate food for a healthy life.
Over 70 food pantries serve individuals across the 5-county area served by Asheville's NC 2-1-1 center. These pantries acquire food through donations, food banks and other means and distribute to food to individuals in need. Different food pantries are open at different times and require various types of documentation, so be sure to search the link above for more information, or contact a 2-1-1 referral specialist for the best way to access these pantries.
Meal sites & soup kitchens can also be very helpful to hungry individuals. Meals are offered by churches, restaurants and other organizations for people who lack the resources needed to buy and prepare food. The link above details the times and locations where programs are offered.
Many individuals can also utilize vouchers to access food. Also referred to as EBT, Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, vouchers allow individuals to purchase food in most grocery stores and in many farmer's markets. After completing the application process through the nearest agencies, as listed at the link above, individuals can usually use vouchers in 30 days, though expedited food stamps are also available.
In addition to the resources above, 2-1-1 database also contains information on nutrition programs, food banks, and programs that provide assistance for people who want to grow their own food or maintain their own gardens on a private basis. Check out the database on the link above, or call 2-1-1, and a referral specialist can give you information about the resources discussed in this article or any others you are interested in.
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