Starbucks will be able to offer more than a coffee and a scone to customers in Chatham-Kent. They will partner with the local United Way to promote the 2-1-1 phone system.
It is in place across the country to find the location of the nearest food bank or soup kitchen to help meet the needs of the public.
“I can say from experience, you do get folks coming in that are there for absolutely nothing to do with what the service or products you’re in the business of providing and they’re folks that are in need of help,” says Steve Pratt, Director of Operations with the United Way. “If you work with the public, being able to have that connection and knowing you can pick up the phone, call 2-1-1, and be able to get them referred to the correct sources that can help them, that’s a wonderful thing that we’re now able to have.”
This past year 575,000 Canadians called 2-1-1 to connect with local services.
