HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-09-14, Page 18Signal -Star • Wednesday, September 14, 2011
11 keeps commun
Cay's Cove
Cathy Cove
Since last Sunday evening we've been
hearing a lot about the 211 Community,
Connection which has served to the
benefit of our community immediately
after disaster struck by providing the cit-
izens of our town a single access point
to .information and community
services.
Community information Centres like
Community Connection have existed
for decades.
Bruce Murray a Associates
is pleased to welcome Penny Overboe as a new associate
Penny will be offering the same high quality service for those requiring
Emergency Medical/Travel Insurance
You can- reach Penny in Bayfield at
5l9-565 -5786
for an appointment
BRUCE MURRAY & ASSOCIATES
44 Edgevallcy Road. Unit 40 London, Ontario
1-888-632-6222
Tim •Hortons Smile Cookies are coming Monday September 19-25, 2011.
Help support our local community by buying a 31.00 Smile
Cookie. The entire procads from each delicious chocolate
chunk Smile Cookie will be donated to Eat and Learn Huron
Perth School Nutrition Partnership Program.
r,. t- V10)00, *pro
To find out more visit timhortons.com
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1
The first 211 service was
launched in Atlanta Georgia in
1997, with over 82% of the U.S.
population having access to the
service today.
In 2000 in Canada, the infor-
mation and referral sector part-
nered with the United Way of
Toronto and United Way of
Canada on an application to
the CRTC for the 211 designa-
tion in Canada.
It was approved in 2001.
A collaborative of. Commu-
nity information Centres, mem-
bership organizations and local.
United. Ways were successful
over the next several years in
securing grants to move the 211
initiative into what has become
a 211 Ontario network of eight
service providers;
The collaborative eventually
received provincial funding for
one Year to establish their net-
work, after which it secured
four years of funding to expand
the service province wide.
Funding for the Ontario
Community Connections net-
work is from the Ontario Minis-
try of Community and Social
Services.
"Community Connection
provides 211 services to eleven
Ontario counties. Huron and
Perth were the most recent
areas we expanded to in 2009,
and as the provincial system is
in development there has not
been real funds allocated to.
promotion," said Pamela Hill-
ier, Executive Director of Com-
munity Connection.- Central
East Ontario.
it is hoped that the role in of
providing 'connections to the
connected
citizens of Goderich in the
aftermath of the tornado disas-
ter will
isas-ter-will be a good demonstra-
tion to the program's funders
to support it. with additional
funding.
When you dial "211" you are
connected with a certified
information and referral spe-
cialist who has been trained to
assess your needs, answer your
questions and advise you about
the services ,and programs that
are best suited for you.
C:allerstci the 211 service are
treated with the utmost
respect, with the right to your
privacy taken seriously.
The calls are anonymous
and confidential.
As many called received are
sensitive in nature, no per-
sonal information will be
shared with other parties.
In times of .an emergency sit
uation as in Goderich the 211
system is activated at the
system
of town officials.
It is through those contact
people that 211 Community
Connections gets their
directives.
As an example, when the.
town requested twenty to
twenty-five volunteers to go
door-to-door to hand out
updated information to the
residents, the request went to
the 211 service.
They then in turn contacted
and organized the volunteers
into action.
"By the end of Thursday we
answered three hundred sixty-
one calls and by the end of that
day had registered•'a total of
600 people for volunteering
and donations," said Ms.
Hillier.
Calls from Goderich in the
days after the tornado were
mostly from those left trauma-
tized, trying to find some way
to help, with many simply
wanting to share their close
calls and needed a connection
to express their grief in what
had occurredto them.
She added that theyAntici-
pate that calls to the 211 serv-
ice from victims seeking recov-
ery help, coping services and
updated information.
In addition the focus on
coordination between their
partnered service providers
steps up in order to keep 211
current on what they are doing
or not doing moving forward.
Goderich. Mayor Deb Shew-
felt minced no words when
asked about the effectiveness
of the 211 Community Con-
nection service.
In the minutes, hours and
days since the storm hit "211
has been a magic tool for front-
line information and source
for immediate registering vol-
unteers and donations - IT
WORKS!" the Mayor shared.
The latest statistics from
Community Connection up to
Saturday August 27th show
that in that six day period they
answered 1,875 calls and regis-
tered 705 volunteers.
Individuals needing infor-
mation are encouraged to con-
tact 211 or their toll free
number at 1-866-743-7818.
Those with access to Inter-
net may visit www.211ontario.
ca/ to learn more.
LYONS 8z, MULHER1ST
Iii a Li ANCE. BFRCIKtI.AB
Dan Kerr, RIB, CIP
Wayne Lyons & dim Mulhern welcome Dan Kerr to
Lyons & Mulhern Insurance Brokers Ltd.
A fhartercd insurance Professional with 12
years experience in property & casualty insurance:
Dan specializes in farm & commercial coverages in
addition to all personal lines insurance.
t` ontart Dralfor your insurance needs: M9-5'24-2664
LYONS
MULH
Insurance Brok
• Auto
• Home
• Commercial
• Recreational
• Farm
• Boat/Cottage
• Travel/Medical
519-524-2664
46 West Streit
Goderich
4111 #
114
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AMP
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