The victim of physical and sexual abuse, Kim found herself spending the night in a bus station, along with her four children, with no money and little hope.
She noticed a phone number on a poster that would drastically improve the quality of life for both her and her children.
She dialed 211 from a payphone and managed to get better clothing and shelter for her kids. Kim later went on to use 211 to help her obtain an education so she could start a better life. With hard work and the direction given by 211, she now works in a major hospital with teenage girls who are pregnant or at risk. She now owns her own home. Kim's full story, posted on 211.org, is proof that 211 can help the needy.
As of Feb. 11, residents of Shelby, Tipton, Lauderdale and Fayette counties can dial 211 on their touchtone phones to access information on employment support, basic human needs resources, physical and mental health help and other community services. The easy-to-remember phone number can also be a connection to volunteer opportunities.
211 isn't solely for the truly desperate, like Kim was. Anybody needing or wanting to participate in community programs can call.
Audrey May, the services supervisor in the LINC (Library Information Center) department at the Memphis-Shelby County Library, said University of Memphis students can benefit from this upcoming service. She said students can get help with the most pressing problems, such as support when a family member becomes ill, to the less pertinent, if your garbage doesn't get collected.
May said U of M students from outside Shelby County might find 211 especially useful.
"A student from out of town might have left their support system back at home," May said. "For those students who left their parents, churches, friends and ministers at home, 211 can direct them to the right people if necessary."
All 211 calls will be answered by the LINC department in the Central Library, which benefits callers in this library-dominated city because of the heap of information and services available locally, May said.
"The people working in LINC can be exceptionally helpful because they're already aware of community programs the library offers," she said. "The phone book can be confusing, especially when fumbling through the government phone numbers. 211 and LINC can be really helpful."
The library's marketing manager, Marcia Wells, plans to promote 211 throughout the city with the delivery of 1,000 balloons with the 211 logo on them.
"This is going to be an important service to the community, and our job is to help make people aware of 211 and how informative it can be," Wells said.
Upon learning of 211, senior communications major Lyncola Odell said she will likely call the number to learn about volunteer programs to help the local Girl Scout troop in her Whitehaven neighborhood.
"I'd like to help girls become intelligent young women, manage money responsibly, and to reject roles that rap videos reflect on women," Odell said. "Somebody needs to teach those girls that they're precious as gold. It's important to support their development because they could be educating or treating my children one day."Heather Larkin, senior psychology major, said she might call 211 if unfortunate circumstances fell on her.
"If I lost my job, I'd probably call to try to line up some kind of job close to school," she said. "It's good to know 211's out there."
