Remember this number on Feb. 11. You just might need it someday.

We all know 911 is the number to call in an emergency, and 411 will help you find a phone number.

United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and district officials are reminding the community of the availability of 211.

211 is an easy to remember three digit phone number people can use when they are seeking useful information.

“It helps people navigate a complex network of human care services in any community and always get a live operator, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, there’s always somebody to answer the phone,” said Gary Vipond, United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and District CEO, speaking to SooToday.

United Way staff will be at Station Mall and Cambrian Mall  Saturday, Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to answer questions about 211 service. 

“We still have a way to go to improve awareness,” Vipond said.

The United Way is designating Feb. 11 as 2-1-1 Day, to not only remind the public the service is available, but also to remind walk in clinics, a host of community agencies and not-for-profit organizations to keep their records (such as hours of operation) up to date for the 211 database, Vipond said.

211 is there to direct callers to services for aboriginal people, victims of abuse and/or assault, children and families, the disabled, those in need of employment training, francophones, legal services, housing, income support, mental health services, newcomers, seniors needs, youth needs and more.

“Just call and describe the situation you’re in and they will make a recommendation as to what organization can provide assistance to you.  It’s a very valuable service,” Vipond said.

211 originated in the U.S. in 1997, and after the first Canadian 211 service was established in Toronto in 2002, 211 became available in the Sault in 2009.

“The largest number of calls that come in are health related, people want to know where the nearest walk in clinic is.  They get a lot of calls from people wanting to know where to go to get a flu shot,” Vipond said.

The 211 database will, for example, include the number of walk in clinics in a community, their locations and hours of operation.

“And, you don’t just get a telephone operator when you call. You get a qualified, certified information referral specialist, these people are very good at their jobs, they know how to research the 211 database and they know how to connect people with what they need,” Vipond said.

There are about 2,000 calls to 211 in the Sault and Algoma district annually, Vipond said, adding 211 was accessed online in our area almost 42,000 times in 2015 alone.

“I would like to see the telephone inquires up more, because a lot of disadvantaged people don’t have access to a computer to go online…they can even come into the United Way office (at 7 Oxford Street) and use our telephone to call 211 if they want to.”

There are seven 211 call centres across the province, Vipond said, the nearest to the Sault being in Thunder Bay.

A 211 call placed from the Sault will go first to Thunder Bay, but if the lines are busy, the call will be automatically rerouted to another centre in, for example, Toronto or Ottawa.

211 Ontario is a non-profit agency based in Toronto, supported by the provincial government and Green Shield Canada, partnered with United Way offices province wide.

The Algoma District Social Services Administration Board and the Sault Ste. Marie District Social Services Administration Board provide funding to the 211 call centre.

United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and district provides funding for the collection of 211 data in the Sault and Algoma in partnership with the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC). 

The Innovation Centre has two employees who maintain 1,500 data records for a host of community service agencies in the Sault and Algoma, Vipond said.

Community agencies in the 211 database receive an annual email reminding them to keep their information updated and easily searchable, and are being urged to go through that updating process.

“Our local Innovation Centre people are trained in those areas and Thunder Bay does the final approval on it, so there is a bit of a process…and if a new agency wants to be included in the database, they can call the Innovation Centre and ask for the 211 staff person and they’ll help them set up a record,” Vipond said.