Feb. 8, 2023
By Hailey Kurtenbach
Anyone in our community can dial 2-1-1, search the online database, or start a live chat to connect with a specialist who will help them find valuable resources and programs in their area. This free, confidential service is made possible by the folks working behind-the-scenes of the 211 Statewide Helpline.
Amy recently celebrated her one-year anniversary with Aloha United Way. In her role as 211 Database Curator, she is responsible for maintaining top-notch data curation standards for over 4,000 resource listings, in addition to finding and vetting new additions, for the Helpline’s statewide database. In other words – she’s got a lot on her (beautifully curated) plate!
From food assistance to housing and utility relief, Amy is part of a 211 team that constantly works to track needs in our community. She is constantly working to expand our statewide database of helpful, even life-changing, programs and services. In celebration of Amy hitting this special one-year milestone, we asked her to share her favorite AUW memories and lessons learned so far.
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned during your first year with our organization?
“It’s all about the little things in life and you never know what someone else is going through. Working here has really brought that lesson home for me. You hear from clients who say they have never needed help before, they were always the ones giving the help; they just don’t know what to do; they don’t have hope that there is help for them.
But it’s the little things like being there to answer the phone, trying again to contact an agency to get an update for a commonly used referral, putting in that extra detail about eligibility that makes a small difference for people. I love knowing that I’m helping not only our team, but the community. And we’re all little agencies, little dots in the big picture, but we’re all working together to help with big problems. And we’re all needed to make that big picture work.
I like knowing I’m contributing that little drop of paint to make the dot, to make the big picture that brings color, and happiness, to the world.”
What is one of your favorite memories at AUW?
“Most of my favorite memories are about my kids. AUW has helped make a lot of special memories for me. I bought baked goods at the [internal giving campaign] fundraiser and I loved seeing the look on my daughter’s face when we had a “brownie battle” and sampled my team members’ brownies to see which was the best.
I am a homebody and not a foodie, but AUW had the “The Balls of Glory” [fundraiser] and we went to grab a box (and a few more) donuts to try. My daughter found out her classmate went to get donuts there too. And I have to admit, I don’t make the time to take pictures with my family or spend a lot of time on the weekends doing things like going to the park, but making the video allowed us to take a moment as a family to play and experience the fun of making the video. We ended up spending most of the day at the park that day.”
What is one super unique resource in the 2-1-1 database that may surprise people?
“The Kona Historical Society has a Portuguese Stone Oven Baking Program. On the 3rd Thursday of the month, 10 a.m. to noon, they bake bread in the communal wood-fired stone oven, or forno that can hold more than 30 loaves of bread. Bread is sold around 1 p.m. via cash or card until it is sold out.”
Mahalo for everything you do for the 211 team, Amy!
On February 11, 2023, our organization will recognize yet another special event – National 211 Day! During this day, United Way chapters across the country work together to spread awareness of the 211 helplines that link people in need to agencies and organizations that can support them in the community.
Aloha United Way is committed to improving the health, education, and financial stability of every individual. The 211 Statewide Helpline is one of the ways that we address and improve those needs. By providing resources to problems, 211 is able to give hope and determination to those who need it most. Get connected and get help at AUW211.org.