(Bowling Green, Kentucky) United Way of Southern Kentucky (UWSK) marked a decade of its 211 helpline today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted in partnership with the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. The celebration which was held at UWSK’s office, drew a strong turnout of local government officials, emergency management representatives, nonprofit partners, business leaders, and community members who gathered to recognize the milestone of 211’s work connecting Southern Kentucky residents to help.
Since launching on July 18, 2016, 211 has grown from a two-person operation serving 10 counties to a team of seven answering calls, texts, and emails across 15 counties in Southern and Central Kentucky. Over the past decade, the helpline has answered a total of 75,533 calls, texts, and emails and identified 84,878 presenting needs — including nearly 21,000 requests for utility assistance, almost 18,000 housing-related needs, and more than 11,000 requests for food.
“Every call represents someone who found hope because someone answered. Over the last decade, 211 has seen a 109% increase in calls and a 123% increase in the needs shared by callers — growth that reflects both the expanding service area and the community’s increasing reliance on the helpline. 211 has been a lifeline during tornadoes, the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, and other emergencies, and has become a partner for emergency management agencies, government officials, nonprofit partners, and thousands of individuals and families. We look forward to continuing to serve and connect others to the help they need.” said Debbie Hills, President & CEO of United Way of Southern Kentucky.
A Decade of Growth
What began in 2016 as a Monday-through-Friday, 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. service answering 5,074 contacts in its first year has since expanded into a 24/7 resource. Key milestones celebrated at the event included:
- 2017: 211 expanded to round-the-clock, 24/7 availability.
- 2020: Text access launched, allowing residents to reach a resource specialist by texting their zip code.
- 2025: The service area grew to include five counties in Central Kentucky, bringing total coverage to 15 counties.
- 2026: The Contact Center answered 10,500 calls, texts, and emails in Fiscal Year 2026 alone.
Get Connected. Get Help.
211 remains a free, confidential helpline available to anyone in the community — residents, caregivers, case managers, and community partners alike — with no eligibility requirements. Southern and Central Kentucky residents can reach 211 in three ways:
- Call: Dial 2-1-1 or 1-844-966-0906
- Text: Send your zip code to 898-211
- Online: uwsk.org/2-1-1
United Way of Southern Kentucky thanked attendees for their continued partnership and encouraged the community to help spread the word about 211, noting that sharing the number with family, friends, and neighbors remains one of the simplest ways to ensure everyone in the region knows where to turn in a time of need.
United Way of Southern Kentucky (UWSK) is a local, independent, non-profit organization that works to identify and address the issues that matter most, change conditions and improve lives. The mission of United Way of Southern Kentucky is to be the leader in bringing together the resources to build a stronger, more caring community. United Way is focused on the building blocks for good quality of life – Education, Income, Health and Safety Net. Therefore, the vision of United Way is a Southern Kentucky where all residents are educated, healthy, and financially stable. Incorporated as a charitable non-profit entity in 1956, UWSK has long served a major role in the community by bringing people together to create opportunities that make a measurable difference in the quality of life for people where they live and work.
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