United
Way’s HELPLINE Offers Resources
to Brazoria County Residents
In 2006, United Way of Brazoria County’s HELPLINE provided
resources, answers and hope to approximately 8,000 county residents.
This number has consistently been increasing throughout the
years because of population increases and local and national events. Yet many
residents do not know about HELPLINE, what it offers or who can use the service.
HELPLINE is a free and confidential information and referral
service of United Way of Brazoria County (UWBC) that links people in need with a
human service agency that can potentially help them.
“We bring together people from all across the
community - people from government, business, faith groups, nonprofits and
ordinary citizens - to tackle these issues and help those in need,” said Quang
Moulton, president of the UWBC board of
directors.
The service utilizes a database of 121 agencies that
provide 272 services around the county. HELPLINE provides callers with contact
information for these organizations that provide food, clothing, rehabilitation
services, addiction recovery services, day care, parenting education, women’s
resources, hospice care, elder care, rent assistance and more.
“HELPLINE began in November 1980 as a result of a
Brazoria County needs assessment, which looked at the most pressing concerns of
county residents,” said Stephanie Cone, executive director for UWBC. “UWBC
realized that one urgent need was an information and referral line to guide
residents to the most appropriate service agency.”
And today, UWBC still believes in that mission.
“Our goal is to give residents the best information
and referral we can,” said Gloria Luna, director of community services for
UWBC. “That is why we are continually updating our database by listening to
those that call in and by networking with community leaders and human service
agencies.”
HELPLINE is an important service in Brazoria County
because it offers information, solutions and opportunities for help to people
who need it, which in turn helps to build a strong and healthy community.
“People call,” said Luna. “They need help. And
United Way provides that help in the hopes that they will never forget the help
they received. Hopefully in turn, they will give a hand to someone else so the
cycle of poverty in Brazoria County is broken.”
Luna and United Way of Brazoria County believe that
when you change the pattern, there are results and people’s lives are changed.
Thus, by investing in HELPLINE, they are providing answers, hope and a chance to
break the cycle of poverty for a multitude of county residents.
If
you need help or more information about United Way of Brazoria County's other
agencies and services, call HELPLINE at 800.971.6677.
In addition to HELPLINE, UWBC funds 63 programs
throughout the county that help strengthen children and families, increase
independence and improve community health.
