Holiday Help
Last chance for families to enroll is Friday, December 10

UNITED WAY 2-1-1 IS CHARITY CLEARING HOUSE FOR HOLIDAY HELP

Churches, the Marine Corps, nonprofits, sheriffs' departments and other human service organizations in the greater Chattanooga area are calling on the 2-1-1 Christmas Clearing service provided by United Way of Greater Chattanooga so they can avoid assistance duplication this holiday season.

Whether you know someone in need or you represent an organization that is providing holiday help, you can dial 2-1-1 from any of the 16 counties in Chattanooga's service area. Check the United Way web site at www.uwchatt.org or call 423-752-0300 for a list of counties it serves. Operators on call at 2-1-1 will work to connect resources to needs in time for the holiday season.

Churches, social clubs, companies and other organizations that want to provide holiday help to children and families this season should contact United Way's 2-1-1 immediately. If you know of a child or family in need of help this holiday season, please call 2-1-1 no later than Friday, December 10. All area nonprofit organizations are encouraged to take advantage of this service.

Calling United Way by December 10 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.

United Way's 2-1-1 uses a web-based data system, called Service Point, that allows staff to see the services a family has used. If the system shows an organization has agreed to provide gifts for a family or child, 2-1-1 then helps other organizations - ones that may inquire about the same individuals - to make informed decisions by supplying information about the services that family has been offered or has received.

Some area organizations participating in 2-1-1's Christmas Clearing service are Toys for Tots, Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, the Forgotten Child Fund, Northside Neighborhood House, the Samaritan Center, Catholic Charities, and the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. 

Families needing assistance can dial 2-1-1 for information and referrals to organizations providing services in the greater Chattanooga area - including Dade and Walker counties in North Georgia and Marion and Rhea counties in Tennessee. In areas where 2-1-1 is not yet available, residents may dial 423.265.8000. 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.

CHRISTMAS CLEARANCE PARTICIPATING AGENCIES

Catholic Charities – food vouchers and special holiday assistance

Chattanooga Area Food Bank – Assistance, food and personal items for families

Chattanooga Human Services Dept. – refers families to Toys for Tots

Community Kitchen – Thanksgiving and Christmas Day meals

Dade County Sherriff’s Office – Toys for Children in Dade Co. – closed

Episcopal Ministries – closed

Forgotten Child Fund – gifts for children ages 1 to 12

Hamilton County Emergency Services

La Pas de Dios – toys/gifts for children birth to age 18, Hispanic only

Marion Co. Sherriff’s Dept. – food & toys (age 0-16) for Marion families – deadline 11/26

Northside Neighborhood House – food and toys for 150 families

Partnership FCA & Building Stable Lives – Special holiday assistance

Rhea County United Way – gifts for children, seniors and food baskets

Salvation Army – Angel tree – (seniors & kids 12 & under) now closed

Samaritan Center – Thanksgiving Baskets and toys (ages 0-18)

Signal Mountain Social Services – food, toys and Christmas Baskets

Soddy Daisy Fire Dept. – toys for children (ages 0-16) – deadline 11/29

Toys for Tots – toys for children age 1 to 15 years old

Walker Co. Stocking Full of Love – toys for kids age 1 to 14