City supports United Way 211 proposal


Ben Foti, a representative of the United Way of Vance County’s Board of Directors gave the background of the 211 project to the Henderson City Council.

Foti made his remarks at the December 8, 2008 regular meeting of the council.

According to Foti, the 211 project deals with referring “clients” to agencies and referring agencies to resources.

“It puts a live person on the phone,” Foti said. He noted that 911 gets “a lot” of calls requesting referrals to various help agencies. “It links resources with clients.”

Foti said that the Vance County board hopes to embark on the project along with the United Way of North Carolina. He said that his board has taken it upon itself to make sure that counties and municipalities are aware of the program.

Council member Mike Rainey, who sits on the United Way of Vance County Board of Directors, told fellow aldermen that the 211 system would be an asset it it could be set up in Vance County. He called it a “positive approach”.

His motion to endorse the 211 project passed unanimously.