FAYETTEVILLE — During its all-too-short life, Arkansas 211 racked up some impressive numbers.

According to executive director Nathan Cook, the service, which helped connect Arkansans with social-service providers across the state, received more than 150,000 calls after it began in May 2007. Add in all the e-mail messages and the visits people made to the program’s Web site, and more than 350,000 folks have contacted 211.

Regrettably, the United Way shut down the program this week because of a lack of funding. It’s unclear whether it will ever come back.

Just like 911, 211 was a simple number to remember in case a person ever needed an essential service but wasn’t sure where to turn. If you ever needed a food bank, a shelter, or assistance paying your rent or utilities, Arkansas 211 could point you in the right direction. Callers also could get help finding such things as job training, child care, medical information and mental-health providers.

As shown by the above numbers, Arkansas 211 got plenty of use. This year, from January through August, 211 received an average of 178 calls per day.

Most of those calls were for assistance finding food and help paying rent or utilities.

It is during the toughest times that social-service providers are most needed. Like similar services across the country, Arkansas 211 helped people navigate through the troubled waters of this economy.

The Legislature, however, decided this year that it didn’t have enough money to fund 211, and donations to the United Way in the state are down 15 percent this year. It’s understandable, though still unfortunate that 211 has gone away.

We hope that 211 can one day be revived in some form. At the very least, could the Web site (arkansas211.org) be maintained? (It was still available as of Thursday.) Though the Web site can’t be as helpful as a human on the other end of a telephone line, it is something, which is better than nothing.

Perhaps the Legislature, or some very wealthy and generous philanthropist, could lend a hand. In any case, the help line needs help.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 11/06/2009

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