United Way of Long Island Announces Launch 2-1-1 Long Island Service

On Friday, United Way of Long Island announced the launch of the 2-1-1 Long Island service at a press conference following a "Community Conversation with New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli".

A partnership between United Way of Long Island and Middle Country Public Library, 2-1-1 Long Island is a free, non-emergency information and referral service that connects Long Island residents to health and human services they may need on a daily basis or during a disaster. Available by telephone and online at www.211longisland.org, 2-1-1 provides callers and web visitors with detailed information on nearly 10,000 community resources for help and assistance in myriad areas - from basic daily needs such as food, heat and shelter - to job training, financial services, child and/or elder care and more.

"2-1-1 is a great example of how United Ways in New York State are working together to provide concrete help to everyone," says Theresa Regnante, President and CEO, United Way of Long Island. "This multi-lingual help line referral system will connect Long Islanders on a daily basis to key information, from where to get basic needs met to how to help their children or other family members access critical community and governmental services on Long Island. With the launch of 2-1-1 Long Island, 93% of New York State's population now has access to 2-1-1 services. We are grateful to Middle Country Library and their team for taking this journey with United Way to create a very real-time response for people to receive help."

"We are thrilled that the Community Resource Database that we have worked on developing for so many years is available to help achieve the long-awaited goal of bringing 2-1-1 service to the people of Long Island," says Sandra Feinberg, Director, Middle Country Public Library.

The 2-1-1 Call Center operates 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week, and is reached by calling 2-1-1 or 1-888-774-7633. Multi-lingual services are available. Online, www.211longisland.org is available wherever internet-ready computers are available, and is updated daily by Middle Country Public Library. The web site will use the database formerly known as the Community Resource Database of Long Island (CRDLI), operated by Middle Country Public Library.

The Community Conversation with Thomas DiNapoli - co-hosted by The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island and United Way - addressed critical issues facing nonprofits in the current economic climate and how collective efforts can strengthen the sector. Bethpage Federal Credit Union sponsored the event.


For more information on 2-1-1 Long Island, contact Kristine Donnelly Schoen at kdonnelly-schoen@unitedwayli.org.