Officials with United Way said, "If your church, social club, civic organization or business wants to provide holiday help for children and families this season, you should contact United Way's 2-1-1 soon in order to provide assistance in time for the holidays. All area agencies and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to take advantage of this service."
Many human service agencies and other organizations in the Tennessee and North Georgia area are already using 2-1-1’s Christmas Clearing service in order to avoid assistance duplication this holiday season.
Area organizations participating in 2-1-1's Christmas Clearing service are:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Catholic Charities
- Catoosa DFACS
- Chambliss Center For Children
- Chattanooga Head Start
- Chattanooga Housing Authority
- City of Chattanooga- Parks & Recreation
- Dade County Sherriff’s Office
- Dallas Bay Fire Department
- Forgotten Child Fund
- Hamilton County Health Department Hugs Program
- Hope For the Inner City
- Hope Unlimited Ministries
- Northside Neighborhood House
- Partnership for Families, Children and Adults
- Rhea County United Way (partnering with Rhea County Sheriff’s office)
- Salvation Army
- Samaritan Center
- Signal Mountain Social Services
- Soddy Daisy Fire Department
- Toys for Tots – United States Marine Corp
- Walker County Stocking Full of Love
Calling United Way as soon as possible gives 2-1-1 operators time to match those who want to help with those in need. Sometimes, families who need help may request assistance from more than one organization because they don't want their children to be left out. The Christmas Clearing service allows organizations to save resources by avoiding duplication within the same family, while at the same time helping more families in a timely and efficient way.
However, if you need help or you know of a child or family in need of help this holiday season, you can also call United Way’s 2-1-1 for assistance. It is important that families and individuals looking for holiday assistance please call 2-1-1 no later than Friday, Dec. 13.
Families needing assistance can dial 2-1-1 for information and referrals to organizations providing services in the greater Chattanooga area - including Catoosa, Dade and Walker Counties in North Georgia and Hamilton, Marion and Rhea Counties in Tennessee. In areas where 2-1-1 is not yet available, residents may dial 423 265-8000 or 866 921-3035 (toll free number for Alabama and Georgia). The hearing impaired can dial 7-1-1 (Teletype Relay Service). Go online at www.LiveUnitedChattanooga.org or call 423 752-0300 for more information about this or other services.
Whether you know someone in need or you represent an organization that wants to provide holiday help, you can dial 2-1-1 from any of the 16 counties in this service area. Check the United Way web site at www.LiveUnitedChattanooga.org or call 423 752-0300 for a list of counties served. Operators on call at 2-1-1 will work to connect available resources to those in need in time for the holiday season.
United Way advances the common good by helping children succeed in education, promoting financial stability so people can provide for themselves and their families, and by caring for the most vulnerable in our community. Because of an endowment fund that helps to cover overhead and administrative expenses, 100% of campaign contributions go directly to these services that help individuals and families in greater Chattanooga, including north Georgia and northeast Alabama.